Toronto centre to answer Markham’s call of wild

Markham Economist & Sun
April 16, 2014
By Amanda Persico

The city took another step toward providing more animal care services, instead of animal control services.

Last year, the city enhanced its animal services contract with the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, by asking for more adoption events and education.

Now, the city is taking steps to ensure its wild critters are also taken care of with its new wildlife services program through the Toronto Wildlife Centre.

The centre offers education and outreach programs, wildlife rescue and rehabilitation and wildlife veterinary and hospital services.

Unlike the Ontario SPCA, which handles the city’s spay and neuter clinics, lost pet and adoption services, the centre deals with wildlife situations.

“Our staff don’t go out an pick up a box of animals,” centre executive director Nathalie Karvonen said. “We deal with dangerous situations, such as a chemical or oil spills, climbing trees to help an injured bird or even helping swans and ducks that get flash frozen in a pond.”

Having a dedicated service for residents to deal with and help wildlife “is a breakthrough”, Councillor Valerie Burke said.

Previously, residents were encouraged to call the Ontario SPCA or the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources wildlife management team.

The Toronto Wildlife Centre – currently located in the Downsview Park area but relocating to the Rouge Park area – also operates a wildlife hotline, one that has been mirrored across North America.

With the new location, comes a new name, which is in the works, Ms Karvonen said.

The majority of calls to the centre’s hotline deal with animal babies left alone, injured animals and animal nuisance calls, she said.

The hotline deals with more than 30,000 calls a year and the centre helps more than 5,000 animals a year.

“We’ve all had some situation with squirrels, raccoons or birds. But only about half of the baby cases people call in about actually need human help,” she said. “That’s our job, to assess the situation and determine the best way to help the animal.”

Another popular inquiry is general information about fear-striking animals, such as snakes.

“Many people have a deathly fear of snakes,” she said. “But there are no dangerous snakes in southern Ontario.”

The centre also works with the Ontario Provincial Police to rescue wildlife that ventured on to any 400-series highways.

The city is working on a number of other furry friend initiatives, including a pet owner loyalty card, pet licensing incentives and animal services storefront locations within local community centres.

It is not often a municipality takes proactive steps toward helping wildlife, Ms Karvonen said.

“I have to commend Markham for taking this step.”

Markham residents are encouraged to contact the Toronto Wildlife Centre directly if they have concerns about wild animals.