Toronto raccoon rescued after being poisoned with windshield wiper fluid in Vaughan

Citynews.ca
Aug. 25, 2022
Michael Ranger

A person has been charged with animal cruelty after a raccoon was poisoned with bread soaked in windshield wiper fluid, according to the Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC).

The centre says a young raccoon walked into a live trap in Vaughan earlier this month and ate bread that was soaked in the wiper fluid.

By the time the animal was found it was vomiting inside the confined space, the TWC says. The raccoon was admitted to the centre on Aug. 5 where her system was flushed.

“Our medical teams immediately got to work to save this young life,” reads a TWC Facebook post. “Despite an upset stomach, the young animal remained spirited.”

The centre says the female raccoon is well on her way to recovery and has been moved to an outdoor enclosure in preparation of being released back into the wild.

“Veterinarian Dr. Diana Sinclair wanted to closely monitor her for several days to ensure there was no further damage,” continues the post. “After a week of special care, Dr. Sinclair confirmed the patient was on the mend and hadn’t sustained any internal damage.”

Windshield wiper fluid contains methanol which can cause kidney failure and lead to death.

The TWC says the individual responsible for the incident has been charged with animal cruelty.

Elana Trainoff, Manager of Partnerships at Toronto Animal Services, says there are plenty of natural ways people can deter wildlife from their property.

“The hope is we can have a peaceful coexistence with our urban wild neighbours,” she says. “There are lots of ways we can do that.”

The city’s website has a list of tips that can help people protect their lawns, gardens, and homes, without having to resort to violence against raccoons.