By Kathryn Lyzun
The City of Ottawa will fight to keep the Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre open, after police seized more than 30 animals suspected of carrying rabies last month.
We’re backing the Wildlife Centre on this issue,” says Coun. Alex Cullen. “We want a resolution of differences (with the province).”
In a city council meeting on Sept. 25, members unanimously agreed to meet with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Wildlife Centre in the next few weeks. The city wants the two groups to reach a compromise that will keep the Centre open but still contain any possible rabies outbreak.
“Both sides have mutual objectives,” says Cullen. “Both are concerned about the animals and rabies, but the MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources) seems to be heavy-handed in interpreting their mandate.”
The Ministry will be asked to explain why it declared Ottawa a high-risk rabies zone when there has been no evidence of an outbreak in the area. The province now prohibits the rehabilitation of any animals that can carry rabies without showing immediate symptoms. These include raccoons, foxes and skunks.
Donna Dubreuil, president of the wildlife centre, says the information on the province’s Web site contradicts the Ministry’s claim that rabies is moving north towards Ottawa.
“It’s just silly,” says Dubreuil “There is no rabies threat. The MNR is just scare-mongering.”
Last month, a squad of police officers raided the Wildlife Centre, grabbing more than 30 animals possibly carrying rabies.
Dubreuil says the invasion was unnecessary because all the animals in the Centre had been living there fully vaccinated and monitored for months.
“We have 15 years of experience,” she says. “We know that rabies has a long incubation period, which is why we keep animals for a full year to be sure.”
Adam McAllister, information officer with the rabies research unit of the Ministry, says the Ministry knew people would criticize them for extending the high-risk rabies zone to include Ottawa. However, he says it was a necessary decision in the interest of public safety.
“We didn’t make any rash decisions,” he says, “even though the numbers (of racoon-spread rabies) are low, it only takes one to infect any other mammal, including humans.”
Dubreuil believes the Ministry had ulterior motives in removing the animals.
“It had nothing to do with rabies or human health,” she says. “There is more of a public health risk when people try and take care of wild animals themselves. We are concerned they are using these healthy, vaccinated animals for research purposes.”
McAllister denies the animals are being used for any research purpose. He says the raccoons will be cared for over the winter and if they are healthy will be released in appropriate areas.
However, Cullen says the city is also asking the Ministry to return the animals to the centre for observation until May. “The Centre is diligent,” he says, “yet gets no credit for it.”
The city gives the Centre $160,000 each year, relying heavily on the volunteer-based rehabilitation service. This is only a fraction of what the city would pay if doing the services themselves.
“We won’t be in operations next year if policy doesn’t change,” Dubreuil says.