Fisheries and Land Resources
May 26, 2017

Public Advisory: Residents Warned About Removing Young Animals from the Wild

Residents are reminded of the importance of leaving wild animals in their natural environment and should be aware of the potential dangers of removing wildlife.

Conservation officers frequently deal with moose calves, and occasionally the young of other species, being removed from the woods by well-meaning people. While most individuals have good intentions, their desire to help is usually misplaced.

Releasing a calf from captivity back to the wild is usually inappropriate because the animal’s ability to survive is compromised as human interference can make the animal quite tame.

People who remove a calf or other young animal from the woods because it appears to be abandoned, also put themselves and the animal in considerable danger. An abandoned young animal has a better chance at survival if it is left in the wild. In the case of a moose calf, the cow moose may still be in the area and will return which provides a better chance for survival than removing the calf from the forest.

A cow moose, sensing that her calf is threatened, may attack and cause considerable injury, and such instances have occurred in the past. Reports of injured or abandoned animals should be reported to the nearest District Forestry and Wildlife Office or uniformed police.

Under the Wildlife Regulations, Section 82, subject to subsection 7(3) of the Wildlife Act, a person is not permitted to keep wildlife in captivity or be in possession of wildlife without a permit from the minister.

In some cases, the Salmonier Nature Park, an environmental education centre and animal care facility, takes in injured wildlife for rehabilitation and eventual release back into the wild based on available space and resources.

Like most zoos and wildlife parks in Canada, Salmonier has a very limited capacity for additional animals.

A copy of the Wildlife Regulations can be found at www.assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/Regulations/rc961156.htm#82_

 

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Media contact
Connie Boland
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6409
connieboland@gov.nl.ca

2017 05 26                                                    4:40 p.m.