Minister discourages removal of moose calves

Tom Osborne, Minister of Environment and Conservation, today reminded the general public that as the season of camping, fishing and other outdoor activities get underway this is also the season when people will encounter wildlife with their newborn young, or young animals on their own.

Each year government officials deal with moose calves, and occasionally young of other species, removed from the woods by well-meaning people. "I know that people have good intentions when they bring moose calves out of the woods," said Minister Osborne, "but their desire to help nature in these situations is usually misplaced. These animals should be left in their natural surrounding unless a calf is injured or it is certain that the mother is dead."

Anyone encountering what they believe to be an orphaned or injured animal is advised to contact their local conservation officer or the police. In addition to moose calves, this rule is also applied to other wildlife species.

Minister Osborne said if people remove a calf which appears to be abandoned because its mother is off feeding, or because a disturbance from people caused the mother to move a short distance away, they are putting themselves in considerable danger. He said a mother moose sensing that her calf is threatened may attack and cause considerable injury to someone. Such instances have occurred in the past.

Many calves taken from the woods go to the Salmonier Nature Park each year, noted Minister Osborne. Considerable effort is required to hand-raise these animals and it is impossible to raise them all. Even if successfully raised, the problem of what to do with them still remains. There are few facilities which are suitably equipped to handle moose. Releasing a calf back to the wild is usually inappropriate because the animal�s ability to survive is compromised. Handrearing makes the animal quite tame and it is likely the animal would end up as a nuisance or even cause a highway accident.

Minister Osborne said the best thing the general public can do if they encounter a young moose calf or other young wildlife species while out in the woods, is to leave the animal in its natural surroundings.

For more information, contact the Salmonier Nature Park, Ralph Jarvis, Manager, or Mac Pitcher, Animal Curator at (709) 229-7888.

Media contact: Tina Coffey, Communications, (709) 729-5783

2005 05 18                          3:35 p.m.