What to do if you find an animal in distress

Finding an animal in distress can be a stressful and worrisome experience, but there are several different things residents can do to help the creatures out.

If you come across a domestic animal in need, the organization that would be called is very different than the one for a wild animal. An injured cat or dog can be helped by contacting either the BC SPCA or the Fairfield Animal Hospital in Kelowna. Both organizations are prepared to deal with domestic animals in distress and the animal hospital is available 24/7 through its emergency line.

According to staff at Fairfield Animal Hospital, they receive a lot of calls about birds who have fallen out of nests or people who think the baby has been abandoned. This is usually not the case. Many birds of prey, such as owls, hawks, and falcons may seem like they are in distress, but they are not.

“Mom is generally always nearby and just out looking for food. These animals are removed from their natural surroundings needlessly and often perish because humans cannot mimic mother nature,” said staff at the animal hospital.

If the animal is truly in distress, residents can contact Fairfield Animal Hospital as they have a holding area for birds of prey. Staff at the clinic will contact representatives at the South Okanagan Raptor Rehab Centre (SORCO) to pick up the injured bird.

If you come across a wild animal in distress, such as a deer, bear, moose, or cougar, it is best to contact the provincial Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) line at 1-877-952-7277. According to Conservation Officer Ken Owens, if you discover an injured animal and call the RAPP line, a conservation officer or partner company will be dispatched to help, regardless of the type of wild animal.

“All wildlife, if they are injured and distressed, you can call our RAPP line and we will make sure the proper people are contacted to deal with the situation,” explained Owens. “The reality of the situation is we have five working conservation officers working in the area, so when it comes to wildlife such as marmots we have pest control companies that also assist in those situations.”

All wild animal calls should go to the RAPP line and they will be assessed and filtered to the appropriate organization.

“We live in an area where we come into contact with wildlife all the time and the most common call into the RAPP line is for bears,” continued Owens. “We have a lot of elk and deer that live within the city year round, and with that comes problems.”

On average the RAPP line receives 25,000 annually for bear calls province wide and within Kelowna, Owens says they receive call after call about deer trapped on fences or killed by dogs.

“Many times the dogs are off leash and we get lots of calls for doe’s trying to trample dogs, when the doe is simply trying to protect her fawn,” Owens said. “We also get lots of calls for people who pick up fawns they believe are abandoned. They think it’s okay to pick them up, but that is the worst thing they can do.”

Owens says they have charged people for picking up fawns that are not actually orphans. He said rehabilitation is not the best solution for these animals as the success rate is fairly low.

If you or your pet injures a wild animal, legally you must report the incident to the RAPP line under the BC Wildlife Act.

“If you strike and injure or hit a deer, you are obligated by law to report that. It is to ensure that we don’t have an animal suffering.”

Owens says the accidental killing of an animal must also be reported, including the location of the incident. If you do not report, it is an offence. There are some exemptions in the BC Wildlife Act if the animal is considered a pest such as a gopher or marmot.

Owens urges residents to call the RAPP line even if they are unsure what to do when faced with an animal in distress. The BC SPCA can also be reached through its Wildlife Hotline at 1-855-6BC-SPCA (622-7722).