Wildlife Resources
Injured and orphaned wildlife
If you find an injured or orphaned wild animal in Ontario, the first step is to contact a wildlife rehabilitator. They are the only ones legally authorized to provide temporary care and potentially return the animal to the wild.
These organizations may be able to help:
Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre
Foster Forest Wildlife Orphanage
Reporting bird bands
Keen-eyed birders may occasionally notice a bird that has been banded or tagged in some way. Many bird species are banded with silver metal leg bands that feature a set of numbers. A few species such as Piping Plovers, Canada Jays, Common Loons, and Peregrine Falcons are part of special ongoing study programs that use a unique series of coloured and patterned leg bands for easier identification. A few large species such as swans, geese and ducks may have wing tags or neck rings.
If you are able to record the details, or ideally obtain photographs of these markers, you can report your sightings to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory, which works in collaboration with the Canadian Wildlife Service to administer the North American Bird Banding Program. Public reports are an invaluable tool in the conservation of migratory bird species in North America. Your sightings count!
If your bird is identified, you will receive a certificate of appreciation with informaton about when and where the bird was originally banded.
Dead or diseased wildlife
If you see sick or dead wildlife, contact the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (CWHC) – check out their website for more info https://www.cwhc-rcsf.ca/. Staff can advise you on the next steps. Reporting these cases allows them to investigate cause of death, screen for diseases and parasites, and gather information pertaining to the health of wild populations. Always be careful to keep your pets away from the carcasses, and avoid touching them without explicit direction from the CWHC.