REGARDING INJURED WILD BIRDS

 

          As many of you may know, we have been struggling over permitting for rescuing and rehabilitating raptors for many years. In August 2010 the Ministry declined to issue us any permit, even a temporary one (such as we had previously held). They indicated that we had 24 hours in which to move any rescued or received injured birds. In February 2011 they identified we do not in fact have 24 hours, and that we can no longer rescue birds in distress.

 

We filed an appeal over the denial of our rehabilitation permit application, but sadly the EAB recently found in favor of the Ministry, and dismissed our appeal. While immensely disappointed in the ruling, at this point in time we are unable to assist the public with birds in distress. Please do not bring in injured birds, we are no longer allowed to help them.

 

We can also no longer respond to calls for assistance from the RCMP, SPCA, Animal Control Services, Veterinarians, or our Regional and Municipal governments. In short, we cannot assist the birds we care about when their need is greatest.

 

For emergencies we suggest you call one of the following wildlife rehabilitation centres: North Island Wildlife Recovery Association in Errington at 250 248 8534; SPCA Wild Arc in Victoria at 250 478 9453, or Island Wildlife Natural Care on Saltspring at 250 537 0777. The Ministry assures us these facilities can all respond to any call in the Cowichan Valley at any time, and usually within an hour.

 

If you are unable to get a quick response for an injured bird, we suggest you try calling the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277 to inform them of the bird in distress, and for further advice.

 

We deeply regret any further suffering and stress caused to wildlife by our inability to respond and help, and any stress caused to the caring members of our community struggling to get a bird timely help. Your past confidence in our abilities to aid raptors and other animals in distress has been greatly appreciated and we hope at some point in the future we may again be able to assist you in emergencies and to rescue and care for injured wildlife.

 

If we have assisted you in the past and/or you feel there is a local need for a service like the one we have previously provided, please consider writing a letter of support; we would appreciate hearing from you.”

 

 

Gillian Radcliffe,

Director, Pacific Northwest Raptors Ltd.