Wildlife
The Issue
Just as many people enjoy positive relationships with wild animals, human conflicts with wildlife are increasing as BC's population grows. In urban areas citizens are concerned that urban coyotes are causing a safety threat for children and pets. Wild animals nest in people's homes, and pigeon and rat populations are increasing. Conflicts with bears and cougars in urban areas are becoming more frequent and questions are raised on how conservation officers deal with these situations. The BC SPCA receives over 5,000 calls a year concerning wildlife issues and handles close to 4,000 wild animals that are injured and in need of rehabilitation each year.
Outside the city, wildlife species -- such as the Vancouver Island Marmot and the Burrowing Owl -- are threatened with extinction. BC's bear-hunting policies are under review. In BC we continue to trap wild animals for their fur. There is pressure from ranchers to poison wolves. Some First Nation communities are contemplating a return to whale hunting.
In seeking public feedback the BC SPCA invited comments with respect to the role the BC SPCA should play in wildlife issues, what it can do to help solve problems with urban wildlife, how it can help people co-exist with wildlife and whether it should have a separate wildlife department. It also asked for input on BC's hunting policies.
Public Feedback
Feedback on this topic was limited. Various approaches were recommended in terms of the role the BC SPCA should play in wildlife issues. Some state that the BC SPCA should not be involved with wildlife issues, recommending that the protection of wild animals should be the responsibility of various levels of governments. However, some feel the BC SPCA can play an advocacy role, putting pressure on governments to address wildlife issues in a more responsible manner. Others suggest wildlife concerns should be referred to wildlife rescue groups.
Education seems to be the strongest recommendation regarding problem wildlife in urban areas. Some suggest that if animal control of wildlife species in urban areas is required, that the BC SPCA must ensure it is done humanely and using methods based on current scientific research.
Some strongly recommend that the BC SPCA create broad awareness of how to coexist with wildlife such as coyotes and raccoons. Coyotes, for instance, have become a major issue in some municipalities. An educational media campaign is suggested with a focus on the protective measures people can take for their children and pets, and how they should behave when they encounter coyotes and other wildlife. For example, the "rescue" of fledging crows creates a problem every year - people think they are injured when they are simply learning to fly. This prompts many unnecessary calls to the BC SPCA and wildlife refuges.
Most submission do not support the BC SPCA having a wildlife department, stating that this would spread the Society's resources too thin. Some suggest leaving wildlife issues to the experts - wildlife rescue groups and provincial agencies. However, having some staff members knowledgeable about wildlife is recommended. One submission supports a BC SPCA wildlife department with funding from both provincial and federal governments. In some rural areas, there is concern that the BC SPCA does not have the resources to respond to calls of injured wildlife. The result is animals being left to suffer and/or die a painful death.
Most submissions call for banning the bear hunt. One submission notes that while domestic animals are a priority to the Society, it should play an active part in building research and independent studies that can contribute data to governments on issues such as bear hunts.
Recommendations
The independent panel's recommendations regarding the BC SPCA and wildlife issues are based on the fact that the PCA Act does not apply to wildlife that is not in captivity. However, as Dr. Ken Langelier of the panel points out, the BC SPCA by its name should be trying to protect all animals that can feel pain or suffer psychological deprivation. While the BC SPCA may not be involved in conservation and management issues, it could be a watchdog on how this is done. It could, for instance, ensure that humane methods are used for any culls or for the capture and euthanasia of wildlife in urban areas.
In terms of wildlife rehabilitation centres, Dr. Langelier's experience has led him to have a great deal of concern about the level of humane treatment that occurs in these facilities. In his view, the aim is to successfully return an animal to the wild and if it is determined to be non-releasable, it should be humanely euthanized. However, he has seen that these wildlife rehabilitation centres often become zoos of crippled wildlife where animals are put on public display to raise funds. He also notes that people who are often poorly educated in wildlife rehabilitation manage these facilities.
We recommend that the BC SPCA regularly inspect and enforce the Act at wildlife rehabilitation centres anywhere in BC where wildlife is held in captivity and where the BC SPCA has jurisdiction. The BC SPCA may want to consider developing some form of standardization and accreditation for wildlife rehabilitation centres.
The independent panel does not believe that the BC SPCA should aggressively take on the task of wildlife at this time. Currently, the BC SPCA, under the Wildlife Act and under permit, responds to calls concerning injured wildlife. These animals are euthanized or turned over to wildlife rehabilitation centres. Nuisance urban wildlife such as raccoons is often re-located. Going forward, the BC SPCA needs to define how and when it will deal with wildlife issues and enact consistent practices across the province. We recommend that the BC SPCA have staff that is knowledgeable about wildlife issues in terms of emergency procedures, advice and when to refer to other agencies. Also, the BC SPCA should play a role in educating the public on coexisting with wildlife.
Our specific recommendations call on the BC SPCA to:
Short-term
• Inspect facilities and enforce the Act with regards to the standards of care and treatment of wildlife where it is held in captivity

• Develop position papers on certain issues relating to wildlife and publicize those papers through the website and media.

• Define its role in dealing with wildlife issues and implement consistent practices across the province.

• Define the BC SPCA's advocacy role with respect to wildlife issues.
Long-term
• Consider some form of standardization and accreditation be developed for wildlife rehabilitation centres.

• Partner with other wildlife and environmental groups in educating the public about coexisting with wildlife.

• Participate in building research and independent studies.