Wildlife centres work together to protect baby animals

An orphaned baby chipmunk in this photo by the Speaking of Wildlife centre. Mon., April 14, 2025.

Concerned for the growing number of orphaned baby animals this spring, eight Ontario-based wildlife centres have joined together to raise awareness.

Each spring, raccoons, squirrels and rabbits seek quiet places to nurse and raise their offspring.

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Attics, chimneys, under a porch or shed are preferred by wildlife, but not by homeowners.

“As a wildlife education centre, we receive numerous calls regarding human-wildlife conflicts where babies may become orphaned as a result,” said Krystal Hewitt, director of operations at the Speaking of Wildlife centre in the Orillia area.

“It is a tricky situation as the number of orphaned animals outweighs the capacity of our wildlife rehabilitation centres.”

Hewitt says while live-trap options sound like an ideal humane option, she said these animals suffer significant stress and can injure themselves attempting to escape the trap.

Once released, they are alone without their young and must find food and water in a strange landscape.

Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act prohibits the release of wildlife farther than one kilometre from their home to limit the spread of disease

Hewitt suggests home and cottage owners take a more thoughtful approach when they discover a new family has moved in.

“Upon return to the cottage in the spring, we found that a raccoon had denned under the building but, with gentle persuasion in the form of lights and sounds, we watched as mom relocated her young, one by one, to a more suitable location,” said Severn cottage owner Susan Best.

Eight organizations involved in the protection of wildlife have come up with a few guidelines for homeowners experiencing nature up close.

The centres include:

• Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, Rosseau,
• Hollys Haven Wildlife Rescue, Dunrobin,
• Procyon Wildlife, Beeton,
• Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre, Napanee,
• Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge, Pefferlaw,
• Speaking of Wildlife, Orillia and area,
• Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre, Val Caron,
• Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary, Minden,

Suggested solutions include:

The gift of time:

If you are aware that the wildlife at your home has babies, the most humane approach is to allow the mother has time to care for them until they are old enough to follow her out of the den on their own— typically around eight-to-10 weeks old. This prevents orphaning the babies and gives them the best chance at survival.

Before sealing any entry points ensure all babies have left. One way to determine this is to place a crumpled paper towel at the entrance to track movement. If the paper towel is disturbed, it likely means that an animal is still inside.

Discourage occupancy

To encourage wild animals to leave on their own, experts recommend making the den area less than ideal for a nursing mom by introducing several elements near the den, such as:

• Leaving a talk radio station playing – not music.
• Using a non-flammable light source in or near the den area.
• Introduce strong smells, like apple cider vinegar on rags placed in a plastic bag with holes.

Using all three methods together, with patience, will likely encourage the mother to move her babies to a new den. Since the majority of species have multiple den sites nearby, the transition occurs smoothly for both human and animal families.

If you’d like guidance on this process, contact Speaking of Wildlife at 705-327-9450.

Seek professional help:

If the situation becomes overwhelming, seek a reputable wildlife control company with expertise in wildlife biology and behaviour, especially during mating and breeding seasons.

Services could include:

• A thorough inspection and free estimate.
• Identifying entry points and locating the mother and her babies.
• Using humane techniques, like one-way doors to allow the mother to leave on her own.
• Gently removing the babies and placing them in a heated reunion box, where they can stay warm until the mother returns and takes her babies one by one to another safe den site.
• After the removal, and reuniting the animal family, the company should secure all entry points to prevent future stays and repair any damage caused by the animal.

The wildlife centres don’t recommend companies that offer to live trap and relocate the animal.

Wildlife-proof your home:

To reduce the risk of future wild guests, homeowners should take proactive steps to wildlife-proof their homes by:

• Removing food sources, such as securing trash bags and storing them in secure bins.
• Sealing entry points, including the installation of chimney and vent covers.