"There’s a raccoon in our garbage can": omnipresent Canadian animals.
The wild nature of Canada is amazing: sometimes it visits your home. Read on to find out what to expect from it.
Recently a Facebook group of Toronto’s immigrants shared news that a wolf has appeared in one of the city's neighborhoods. The animal is not harmful to humans but is not averse to snacking on a slow home bird, such as a goose. These feasts sometimes shock children playing nearby. For now, the wolf is being captured by city services, and we have decided to write about the wild animals of Canada that you can encounter not far from home. For recently arrived immigrants, four-legged neighbors may seem unusual and even frightening, but Canadians themselves react to them as we do to city pigeons.
Fantastic beasts and where to find them
The fauna of Canada is truly very rich, among which are whales, polar bears, walruses, grizzlies, moose, cougars, deer (including the Canadian endemic caribou), wolves, bison, raccoons, and skunks. Do not worry! A whale is unlikely to decide to pay you a visit, and polar bears usually do not walk around in the middle of the city. To observe these animals, Canadians go on special tours.
We will say in advance that there is no need to panic and refuse to immigrate to this beautiful country because of fear of wild animals. Cases of their attacks on humans in Canada are very rare. Each year in the US and Canada, there are 2 to 5 bear attacks, the most dangerous predators, and most of them are not deadly. For comparison, thousands of attacks by stray dogs are registered in Eastern Europe annually, and several dozens of them lead to the death of the victim.
Little fluffy bandits
Small animals such as raccoons, skunks and coyotes cause more trouble for Canadians. They scatter trash, cause chaos, and also bite and scratch to defend their territory. Canadian cities are gradually expanding, taking away the territory of these creatures, but comfort and abundance attract them to human homes. The "forest gang" prefers to settle in cities because there is a lot of accessible food and they can always find shelter. For example, regular garbage cans often serve as raccoons' dining room and home. The best approach when encountering them is to not touch or approach these mischievous critters. Raccoons and skunks may look cute and harmless, but do not try to pet them, as they can carry rabies, tetanus, and other unpleasant diseases. If you have children, make sure to teach them to admire animals from a distance and not touch them. This year, skunks have become carriers of avian influenza. They do not shy away from carrion and become infected with the virus, which can lead to death. If an infected skunk bites a human or a pet, or has prolonged contact with them, this can have unpleasant consequences for their immunity and wallet. Timely diagnosis of avian influenza can be successfully treated and does not pose a deadly threat, but it will require a lot of time and money, and it will be painful.
How to properly deal with a raccoon
If a raccoon, skunk, or coyote is causing trouble on your property, it's better not to try to handle them yourself and instead contact a specialized service. Their employees will quickly capture the animal and take it to a safe location. It's important to know that in Canada, wild animals are protected by law, so you can't harm them if they're not attacking you. Theoretically, you have the right to move the troublesome animal yourself, but in practice, it's difficult to do so without risking getting injured by the animal. Therefore, it's better to leave the eviction of the animals to the professionals.
Sometimes, furry bandits attack domestic animals or small children. In such cases, you have the full right to fight for the life and health of the child or pet. However, you need some precautions: try to avoid bites and scratches, arm yourself with something that will allow you to avoid direct contact, and also try to scare the animal away. Sometimes, just the sight of an approaching and shouting person scares the troublemakers off. If you hit the animal and it starts running away, under no circumstances should you pursue it. This could result in a fine or even criminal liability. If you, your loved ones, or pets have been bitten or scratched, seek medical help immediately.
"Mom, can he live with us?"
It is worth knowing that keeping raccoons and skunks as pets in Canada is prohibited. However, this does not prevent you from helping an injured animal by taking it to a veterinarian, or feeding polite furry guests. The main thing is not to make it a resident of your home, because this is considered unethical and punishable by law.
Tips for tourists and hunters
If we are talking about larger and more dangerous animals, such as moose and bears, then precautions should be taken only during travels, visits to forests, and parks. Before your trip, be sure to read about the animals you may encounter and teach your whole family the safety rules, as they are different for each animal. You can scare off a cougar by yelling and raising your hands to appear larger, but it's better not to provoke bears and quietly back away or pretend to be dead. If you plan to hunt in Canada, join a group of experienced hunters who know the local forests and will teach you the rules of conduct in them.
