Now that the 2023 baby season is in full swing, we’d like to review with our readers some Do’s and Don’ts and to clear up some misconceptions.
Procyon Wildlife is a volunteer run organization which does not receive funding from the government. Our volunteers give their time generously and do not always have the personal resources available to respond to wildlife calls in the field.
That being said our volunteers will try to pick up injured and orphaned animals, but this is not always possible, especially during the height of baby season.
This is why when you are aware of a wild animal in distress, that you call us first for instructions at 905-729-0033 and why we ask you to also help by trapping or bringing the animals to the Centre.
There is a group of volunteer drivers that belong to Ontario Wildlife Transport that will bring the animal to us, if it has been contained. If you need their help, visit their Facebook page and send them a message. But remember, call us first to make sure our facility has room to take the animal.
Help us help wildlife in distress faster and more efficiently by using this guideline:
1. Do call our hotline number at 905-729-0033 when you discover injured or orphaned wildlife. We will give you the advice you need and help you determine if the animal requires help.
2. Do speak clearly when leaving your message. We will need your full name, telephone number, and the nature of the wildlife emergency.
3. Do be patient. Our hotline is answered from 10am to 5pm daily, seven days per week. If we are busy with wildlife patients, we may not answer the phone all the time, but leave your message and someone will call or try to call within the hour of checking messages. If you call after hours, we will call you back the next day.
4. Do not leave multiple messages, as this will take more time for us to respond as our volunteers must listen to all messages. At the height of baby season, we can receive up to 40 calls per day.
5. Do not leave messages on Facebook messenger, Instagram, on Google or any other social media platform. Although our social media volunteers monitor these platforms on a regular basis, social media is not the correct avenue to report an injured animal. Please call the hotline at 905-729-0033.
6. Do not bring wildlife to the centre without calling us first to make sure we are not at capacity.
7. Do not leave wildlife in boxes in our driveway, or in our shed or other outbuildings.
8. Do follow the instructions given to you by our hotline volunteer or animal admissions volunteer and bring the animal to our Animal Admissions/Triage Trailer at Procyon.
We expect it to be a very busy season, and indeed it has already begun, with our first admissions in January of three eyes closed baby raccoons.
By following the guidelines we have described, we can all work together to help wildlife in distress.
In addition, if you are, or someone you know is interested in volunteering for Procyon wildlife, our orientation day will be held on March 4th.
To learn more about what it means to volunteer at our organization, please follow this link: https://www.procyonwildlife.com/volunteering-at-procyon/
Ideally, it would be wonderful if we could put together a team of volunteers whose sole function was the rescue/pickup of an animal. If you think you’d be interested in helping with this endeavour, please contact Linda at vo******************@gm***.com
Thank you.
HELP is in YOUR hands…it’s in ALL our HANDS.