Many animals barely holding on as winter ends, says wildlife expert

A family of raccoons is being rehabilitated at the Procyon Wildlife Centre in Beeton, Ont. (Lexy Benedict/CTV News)

Spring is just around the corner, and wildlife experts are warning the public about a critical and often overlooked period for animals.

Debra Spilar, director of Procyon Wildlife in Beeton, Ont., says that while the worst of the cold may be behind us, many animals are actually barely hanging on.

After months of limited food supplies and a harsh winter, this seasonal shift often brings a surge in emergency cases involving starvation and dehydration.

Spilar explains that if a wild animal allows a person to approach or handle it, that is a clear sign that something is wrong.

Healthy wildlife instinctively avoids people who are perceived as predators.

Best practices for handling animals in distress

Well-meaning attempts to help can unintentionally cause more harm, says Spilar. Feeding a severely malnourished animal can overwhelm its system, while offering water may lead to aspiration, a dangerous condition where fluid enters the lungs.

Spilar says both can be fatal if not handled properly.

Instead, the community is asked to place a distressed animal in a secure container and keep it in a dark, quiet space away from people and pets.

Minimizing stress is critical. “Stress alone can kill a weakened animal,” emphasizes Spilar.

Under Ontario law, wildlife must be cared for by a licensed rehabilitator. Members of the public have up to 24 hours to take an animal to a qualified person or centre through the Ministry of Natural Resources or organizations such as Ontario Wildlife Rescue.

Procyon Wildlife says it is already seeing an increase in starvation-related cases and expects that number to rise in the coming weeks.