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Caution urged when helping animal in distress With summer vacations and cottage visits now in full swing the Ministry of Natural Resources is advising residents what they should do if they find a sick, injured or orphaned wild animal. First and foremost, the ministry points out, it is important to determine whether the animal is actually in distress as many well-intentioned people remove juvenile animals from healthy, natural lives in the wild when there is no need to. Ministry officials say it is normal for some species to leave their young alone, especially during the day, with deer and cottontail rabbits spending much of the day away from their well-camouflaged offspring to minimize the chance of predators finding them. To determine whether an animal is truly orphaned, the ministry advises residents to check on the animal periodically for 24 to 48 hours to see if it is still around. People should keep their distance from the animal and cats and dogs should also be kept away as the adult will not return if it is noisy or if predators or people are close by. Signs the animal is actually in trouble include visible wounds, swelling on the body, the body is covered in fleas, unusual or uneven loss of fur or feathers, difficult or raspy breathing or sneezing, a dangling leg or wing or the animal has its eyes closed or its head tucked under its wing. If the animal is injured, sick or orphaned the ministry advises that a wildlife custodian be called who can help assess the situation and provide advice on what action to take. If specialized and immediate care is necessary to help the animal, ministry officials say, it should be taken to a wildlife custodian or veterinarian within 24 hours of capture. Residents cannot keep wildlife in captivity for more than 24 hours without approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources. If the animal must be handled, residents are advised to follow the instructions provided by the wildlife custodian on how to minimize the risks not only to themselves, but the animal as well. Residents are asked to wear protective clothing and equipment, such as leather gloves, to avoid bites or scratches and to wash their hands after handling the animal. It is important to recognize that many of the volunteer-operated organizations that look after injured animals have limited capacity to accept animals, especially during the spring. 23 · Friday, July 23, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com OVER 60,000 SATISFIED CUSTOMERS HURRY GOVERNMENT REBATE ENDS SOON 9 Locations To Serve You Better! *Call Dealer for Details for details # Best Price # Best Service # Eligible for O.P.A. & Government Rebate THE BIGGEST SALE EVER $ 500 OFF SAME DAY INSTALLATIONS AVAILABLE *See dealer 905-849-4998 AWNINGS www.aireone.com 1-888-827-2665 A+ Rating YOUR BACKYARD SPECIALIST Residential, Commercial Awnings, Canopies, Portable Shade Structures YOUR BACKYARD SPECIALIST Residential, Commercial Awnings, Canopies, Portable Shade Structures Enjoy the outdoors relaxing under a Sunguard awning manufactured with your choice of fade proof Sunbrella fabric, and powered by a reliable Somfy remote controlled motor. STOCK AWNINGS AVAILABLE FOR FAST INSTALLATIONS! OTHER SHADE PRODUCTS TOO Call us or visit our showroom at: 4090 Ridgeway Dr. #10, Mississauga 905-569-8566 Monday-Friday 9:30am to 5pm Saturday 10am to 3pm www.sunguardawnings.com