A small female raccoon spent its final days dragging a leg-hold trap through Oak Bay and chewing off body parts in a failed bid for freedom.
The animal was discovered in the 2000-block of Lansdowne Road on the weekend, where it B次元官网网址� trap, snapped on its front right leg B次元官网网址� was tangled in black landscape netting. A resident called Oak Bay police who called the B.C. Conservation Service and officers from both agencies got the animal safely off to the BC SPCA Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (ARC) in Metchosin.
B次元官网网址淯nfortunately her injuries were too severe and we werenB次元官网网址檛 able to rehabilitate her,B次元官网网址� Andrea Wallace, manager of wild animal welfare said.
The animal was put down after an examination showed it had been in the trap a day or two.
The raccoon had a crushed right front leg, and as with many trapped animals, sheB次元官网网址檇 chewed most of the digits off the limb.
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B次元官网网址淭hat turned the paw necrotic, full of infection and she had multiple fractures through it,B次元官网网址� Wallace said.
Unfortunately, thereB次元官网网址檚 no telling where the trap came from. It bears no markings and the animal could have dragged it from anywhere.
What is clear is itB次元官网网址檚 illegal, Wallace said.
B次元官网网址淚t is unlawful to use a leg hold trap which has teeth or other projections on the jaws of the trap,B次元官网网址� she said, citing provincial hunting and trapping regulations.
A resident found this little guy caught in a leg trap. OBPD members & Conservation Officer released him and got him in a cage. He's been taken to Wild Arc Rehab Centre. 馃憤 Before setting a trap, review applicable laws. Kids & pets can trigger these dangerous (and cruel) traps.
B次元官网网址� Ray Bernoties (@ray_oak)
ItB次元官网网址檚 not unusual for an injured raccoon to wind up at the Metchosin facility. They see 100 to 200 of the animals in a given year for reasons ranging from from healthy but orphaned, to hit by cars or injured by traps.
This kind of trap is not unheard of, but certainly not common, Wallace said.
B次元官网网址淚f you see any of these kinds of traps ever being used, please report it to conservation (Report All Poachers and Polluters) RAPP line,B次元官网网址� she said.The RAPP number is 1-877-952-7277.
Residents can report an animal in distress through the BC SPCA call centre at 1-855-622-7722 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days per week. The call centre is closed on statutory holidays except for wildlife calls on south Vancouver Island, from 8 to 4:30 p.m.
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