Efforts are underway to humanely trap a wolf-dog hybrid that has been on the loose since late August in a rural area outside of Parksville.
B.C. Conservation Service has indicated the animal is outside its jurisdiction, so itB次元官网网址檚 up to local animal control and community members to find a solution.
Coastal Animal Control Services of B.C. (CACS), contracted by the Regional District of Nanaimo, says itB次元官网网址檚 looking for a suitable location to place a trap, which will need to be on private land.
The animal, reportedly released by an owner, has been sighted in areas such as the Virginia Estates subdivision, Springhill Road and nearby forested Crown land.
Colleen Rowe lives in the area and has 15 years of experience rescuing and fostering wolf-dogs.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been trying to humanely catch it for about five weeks,B次元官网网址� said Rowe, who used to do work for the Yamnuska Animal Sanctuary in Cochrane, Alta.
She has been monitoring a trail camera focused on a trap and said the wolf-dog has been showing B次元官网网址渋ncreasing interestB次元官网网址� in the protein sources inside the trap.
B次元官网网址淭his animal is incredibly wary of humans and heB次元官网网址檚 not starving. There are lots of rabbits and mice in the area,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淪o weB次元官网网址檙e thinking a humane trap is our best bet because thereB次元官网网址檚 no way you could walk up and leash him.B次元官网网址�
Rowe spotted the animal once while out walking her dog from about 30 feet away. The wolf-dog saw them and left the area.
Resident Vaughan Roberts has encountered the large animal twice and said it behaved aggressively. At one point he had to throw rocks at it when it chased his dogs.
RDN Area F representative Leanne Salter is concerned for the safety of residents and hopes the animal can be trapped humanely and relocated to a sanctuary.
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B次元官网网址淗e has to come off the trail. I am really concerned about, especially small kids going to school, or on bikes,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淏ecause apparently itB次元官网网址檚 been tracking people.B次元官网网址�
She added she is glad CACS intends to trap the animal, and recalled when two serval cats got loose in the Corcan-Meadowood area last year and killed a domestic cat and several ducks before being recovered.
Salter brought a resolution to ban exotic pets, such as wolf-dog hybrids, to the recent Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) conference, which passed. It will take some time for the resolution to make its way through different levels of government.
B次元官网网址淚 know that doesnB次元官网网址檛 help today, but going forward it could be helpful,B次元官网网址� Salter said.
Rowe said it will take time for the wolf-dog to get comfortable with the new trap placed by FLED (Find Lost and Escaped Dogs), after the original trap from AARF (Arrowsmith Animal Resource Foundation) was damaged by a bear.
One option, if the animal is caught, is to place it in a sanctuary such as Yamnuska, but it would first need to be checked over for injuries, possibly neutered if not already and assessed based on its temperament.
B次元官网网址淵ou have to integrate them with the existing animals, thatB次元官网网址檚 the key. You canB次元官网网址檛 just throw three wolf dogs together,B次元官网网址� she said.
Rowe has helped people re-home wolf-dogs in the past, in situations like a divorce or when renters are no longer allowed to keep them. She said this is the first time she has dealt with one being released into the wild.
B次元官网网址淭he main reason I donB次元官网网址檛 want people breeding them, is people get them and then their life circumstances change or they find that theyB次元官网网址檙e not equipped to house the wolf dog,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hey think itB次元官网网址檚 more like just having a dog.B次元官网网址�
She asks the community to be careful and keep dogs on a leash in the area, and to allow time for the wolf-dog to habituate to the new trap so it can be caught humanely. Signs are now up in the area advising people to be careful.
Sightings of the wolf-dog can be reported to FLED at info@fledsearch.ca or 250-479-0911.
