News Release                                                            For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                 June 21, 2012

Give Wildlife Some Space!

The Grey Bruce Veterinary Association and the Grey Bruce Health Unit remind everyone to keep a healthy distance from wildlife. It helps protect the health of you and your family, your pets, and the health of wild animals.

Wild animals, especially baby ones, are often cute; our first impulse may be to feed or hold or even adopt them as pets. However, such actions can pose health risks for people. Wildlife can carry rabies and other communicable diseases that can cause serious illness or even death in humans. These actions can also be dangerous for wildlife. Wild animals are adapted to living in the wild. Human actions, no matter how well intended, can hurt wild animals by making them more susceptible to disease and predation.

Tips for maintaining a safe distance:

• Observe wild animals from a distance.
• Do not attempt to interact with wild animals by feeding them, petting them, etc.
• Avoid any wild animal that is aggressive, is friendly towards humans or behaves in any other unusual way.
• If your pet is fighting with a wild animal (or with another domestic animal) avoid   attempting to break it up. If you must do so, take precautions to avoid being bitten.
• Leave baby animals undisturbed. If alone, their parents are likely nearby or they will be able to fend for themselves. If you feel you must intervene, contact the local Animal Control office for advice and assistance. Learn more about what to do if you find sick, injured or orphaned wildlife at:   http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/2ColumnSubPage/STDPROD_096832.html

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For more information:

Dr. Sally Parks,                                                           Robert Hart,

Rabies Committee,                                                      Program Manager,

Grey Bruce Veterinary Association                            Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-881-3273                                                              519-376-9420 ext. 1279

B.Hart@publichealthgreybruce.on.ca