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10 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday January 19, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Pet of the Week Trapping and relocating illegal H ouseholds with wildlife problems often seek immediate solutions. Live trapping and relocation may seem like an easy `fix', however in most cases it provides only a temporary solution. Each year wild animals are forced to live in closer proximity to humans. Much of their habitat has been destroyed forcing them to compete with humans for food, shelter and space. With patience, understanding and common sense wildlife can be enjoyed and problems resolved. If wildlife is encroaching on your territory a solution begins with asking yourself the question why. If your home or property offers easy access to shelter and food then you are inadvertently welcoming wildlife in. If you take the appropriate steps to wildlife proof your home (for example, covering off chimneys to prevent entry, keeping all garbage in sealed containers in between pickup dates) you will take away the source of their attraction. Live trapping and relocation are only temporary solutions. If used to resolve the problem, it is more than likely that another animal will take up residence once the other (trapped) animal has been removed, resulting in a frustrating and recurring problem. Wildlife proofing your home and property is a long term and humane solution. Consider what happens to animals that are trapped. Traps are often left for long periods of time causing the animal to be exposed to the elements or harassed by other animals outside of the trap. The stress on the animal can cause it to injure itself while trying to escape. If it is a mother separated from her young, they are certain to face death without her care. Even if a short period of time lapses between trapping and relocation, an animal taken to a new territory has to cope with the elements, lack of a den site and the immediate need to search for water and food. Weather conditions can determine its survival. Death could occur before ever finding a new `home'. Relocating wildlife also poses a risk to the animals where they are relocated to. If you are relocating an animal with a transmittable disease such as distemper, mange or rabies, you are potentially spreading that disease to an unexposed population. This could impact wildlife, domestic pets and even people. In Ontario, it is illegal to trap and relocate animals from the site where they were captured, in accordance with the Ministry of Natural Resources Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, S.O. 1997, c. 41. There are steep fines for doing so. Further, if the animal is mistreated or neglected and it results in the animal suffering, the person who has set the trap, could face charges under the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Towards Animals (OSPCA) Act. To cope with wildlife problems in your home or property take the humane path to a long term solution. The OSPCA offers tips for wildlife proofing your property and species specific fact sheets on its web site at www.ontariospca.ca. For further assistance contact the Oakville & District Humane Society at 905-845-1551. AMAZING ALBI: Albi is a wonderful dog sport prospect. He is amazing. Looking for a pet, check out www.oakvillehumane.ca, call 905-845-1551 or visit the Oakville Humane Society shelter located at 445 Cornwall Rd. Crayola · Lego · Educo · Haba · Selecta · Baby Bjorn · Kinder Zeat · Stokke · · Puzzels · French Books · CD's · DVD's · Pool Toys · Outdoor Toys Don't let hearing loss prevent you from enjoying life! 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