Wildlife can enter your home through many problem areas. They can climb onto your roof to get into your attic, squeeze through cracks in your foundation, or simply walk through your front door or enter through an open, unattended window. They can also make themselves at home in your garage, shed, or crawlspace.
Many types of animals enter homes, cottages, and other types of private properties all the time. And, of course, when it happens to you, your first thought is to get them out before they cause damage and destruction and put your health and safety at risk.
You might already know that using poisons is extremely cruel and harmful to not only the wildlife in your home, but to your pets and outdoor animals, too. But what about live trap and release?
If you’re thinking about using trap and release to remove wildlife from your home, there are a lot of rules that you need to follow. Here’s what you need to know about trapping in Ontario.
Release within 24 Hours
The release of a captured animal must be conducted within 24 hours according to rules for trapping in Ontario. Animals are very vulnerable when left in traps. Other wildlife can harass or injure them. They could also die from heat stroke or frostbite. Or they could suffer or die from starvation or dehydration if left in a trap for a long time.
Live trapping also causes severe stress. The animal could become seriously injured from desperately trying to escape.
If you were to attempt to trap and relocate an animal, you would need to continuously check on the trap to see if it has caught wildlife so you can release it within the required timeframe.
Release within One Kilometre of Capture
In addition, animals that have been trapped can only be released within one kilometer from where they were captured. Moving animals far away from their stomping ground puts them at a high risk of death. They’d have to try to find food and water sources in an unfamiliar environment.
There may also be territorial fights between resident wildlife and the relocated animals that can lead to injury or death.
In addition, moving them far away can also lead to the spread of disease to resident wildlife, causing other animals to become ill or die.
The Process Must Be Humane
Ontario wants to protect its wildlife. If you improperly use a trap and it causes animal suffering, you may also face animal cruelty charges through the Ontario SPCA Act. It doesn’t matter if you intended to do the animal harm or not.
For example, a North York resident was charged under the Act in 2011 for confining a raccoon to a live trap for weeks without shelter, food, or water.
Sick or Injured Animals
If the animal that you have trapped is an orphan, is sick, or is injured, it must also be taken to a wildlife centre that is authorized to rehabilitate it. It cannot simply be relocated.
Not All Animals Are Treated Equally Under the Law
In addition, the laws for trapping in Ontario vary when it comes to species at risk, including threatened or endangered animals. For these types of wildlife, as well as other animals such as moose, American elk, white-tailed deer, and black bears, special rules apply. The provincial laws that you must follow may vary depending on the nuisance animal on your property or in your home.
Trap and Release Isn’t the Answer
When you have unwanted guests in your home, trap and release isn’t the answer. It isn’t a humane option. It’s often cruel and ill-advised. There are also many rules for trapping in Ontario that you must follow for proper use of a trap and proper release of an animal. Do something wrong in the process and you could be charged.
When wildlife invades your home, call animal removal experts right away. An animal removal company will be able to evict the animals safely and humanely through one-way doors. No harm will come to the wildlife and no trouble will come to the homeowner.
In addition, though live trapping might seem like an easy fix to your wildlife problem, it is only a temporary solution at best. An animal removal company will be able to inspect your home, seal up problem areas, repair and restore damage, and prevent future re-entry so that the problem is fixed permanently, guaranteed.
Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!