Grey Bruce Public Health is calling on residents and visitors to the region to resist the urge to feed and handle wild animals.
Throughout the summer months the health unit typically sees an increase in reports of people being bitten and scratched by wildlife, particularly raccoons. These injuries, while appearing minor, can pose potentially serious health risks, the health unit noted. The main concern is rabies. Raccoons, bats, skunks, and foxes across the province are the most common carriers of the disease.
While the risk of a humans contracting rabies is considered very low it can happen if a person is bitten or scratched by an infected animal or if an infected animal’s saliva gets into an open cut or sore or a person’s mouth, nose, or eyes. Last year, a child from the Brantford-area died after contracting rabies from a bat in the Timiskaming region north of Sudbury. It was the first human case of rabies in Ontario since 1967.
“Summer is the time of year when people spend more time exploring the great outdoors, hiking and cycling local trails, and enjoying their backyards, campsites, and cottages," Senior Public Health Manager Andrew Barton said in a statement. "This time outdoors increases the chances of encountering wildlife, including animals that may be sick, injured, or appear abandoned. Grey Bruce Public Health is advising people to resist the urge to interact with wildlife. Always observe wild animals from a safe distance and never pick up or handle a wild animal."
Anyone who does end up with a bite or scratch that breaks the skin while handling a wild animal is advised to wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
The health unit has provided the following list of tips to help prevent potentially negative interactions with wildlife:
Stay away from wild animals and refrain from keeping wild animals as pets.
Keep pets away from wild animals and do not let pets roam unsupervised.
Wildlife-proof homes and yards.
Warn children to stay away from wild or stray animals.
Do not trap and transport wild animals to a new location.
Do not disturb baby animals. Sometimes, people believe young or baby animals have been abandoned when, in fact, their parents have temporarily left to forage. Contact an authorized wildlife rehabilitator if the young or baby animals remain for a prolonged period of time. Do not pick up sick or injured wild animals. Call an authorized wildlife rehabilitator instead.