Wildlife

Pets Niagara does not rescue wildlife. The rescue and rehabilitation of wildlife is a highly specialized skill requiring the expertise of fully trained and licenced rehabilitators. For wildlife in distress, we have provided a link, below, to Ontario Wildlife Rescue.

If you witness cruelty to wildlife or a wildlife crime being committed anywhere in Ontario please immediately call your local police department, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) and/or your local humane society. Only call the Ministry of Natural Resources if the cruelty or crime relates to one of the scheduled "at risk" species. Please read further down this page for that information.

Wildlife Emergencies

We highly recommend that if you have come upon wildlife in need of aid that you visit the Ontario Wildlife Rescue website. It is an amazing resource to quickly find wildlife centres that are authorized by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources to treat the species that is in need of aid.

Their primary goal is to connect people who have found injured or orphaned wild animals with those who can look after them and get them back into the wilds. Through a network of rehabilitators (government word for people who help wild animals) and wildlife centres across Ontario Ontario Wilfelife Rescue works diligently to save as many wild animals as possible.

On their website you will find a list of wildlife rehabilitators to help you locate a wildlife centre in your area or a centre that specializes in a particular species. The first 24 to 48 hours after a wild animal is found is the most critical. They usually have been without food or water for a while, are confused and are afraid. Connecting with a wildlife professional quickly can save their life.

The second goal of Ontario Wildlife Rescue is to help raise money for wildlife centres across Ontario. Rehabilitation and wildlife centres are completely dependent on donations and the public support as they do not receive provincial government funding or grants. The smaller centres in particular do not have fundraising systems and spend most of their time and resources looking after animals. For them, even a few dollars can make all the difference.

Rabies in the Niagara Region

If you have been in contact with an animal that you suspect might have rabies, please contact your doctor immediately or visit the nearest hospital emergency department. The attending physician will contact the Niagara Region's Public Health Department concerning your exposure.

Coyotes

If you have concerns about coyotes please contact Coyote Watch Canada. The have a first-response team for the Niagara Region and are able to carry out on-site investigations, assessments as well as provide mitigation directives, wildlife rescue and release assistance within 24 hours of your initial contact. Their contact details are as follows:

• 24-hr. Hotline: (905) 931 - 2610
  
  
• email: http://coyotewatchcanada.com/contact/
  
  
• Facebook https://www.facebook.com/coyotewatchcanada
  
  
• Twitter https://twitter.com/CoyoteWatchCAN
  
  
• Report Local Coyote Sightings to www.niagarafalls.ca/coyote

Non-urgent Wildlife Concerns

If you have any information regarding cruelty of, crimes concerning or general concerns for wildlife, please contact the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) or telephone 1-877-847-7667. Please bear in mind that individuals do not need a permit to scare away, capture or kill most wild animals, if the animal is causing damage to their property. These activities are not likely to be deemed as cruelty to or a crime against wildlife by the Ministry of Natural Resources. However, special rules do apply to endangered and/or threatened species as found on the lists noted in the next following section, moose, white-tailed deer, American elk, and black bears.

For all other reports of cruelty or wildlife crime being committed anywhere in Ontario please immediately call the Ministry of Natural Resources 1-877-847-7667, your local police department and/or your local humane society.

At Risk Species

For lists of lichen, plants, insects, molluscs, fish, reptiles, birds and mammals considered to be "at risk", extirpated or of particular concern throughout Canada, please visits the Endangered Species Act, 2007, Statutes of Ontario 2007, chapter 6 which can be found online. Scroll to near the bottom of the webpage where you will find a number of Schedules to the Act listing all of the various species as assigned to various classifications of endangerment. A much more reader-friendly synopsis of the schedules can also be found at the Species at Risk in Ontario List.