Homeowners have a key role to play in preventing orphaned baby raccoons and squirrels

With raccoons and squirrels nesting this time of year, a centre in Greater Sudbury has advice on ensuring homeowners don't create orphans.

A Sudbury-based wildlife rehabilitation centre is joining seven other centres across the province in sounding the alarm about the need to prevent baby animals from becoming orphans.

Right now, raccoons and squirrels are finding secluded places to raise their young, including in attics and garages in residences.

That is causing many homeowners to trap and relocate the mother -- leaving the vulnerable babies behind.

At the Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre on Monday at noon, it was feeding time for three orphaned baby raccoons that recently came into the centre’s care.

“Within the next few months, we are going to be inundated with (baby wildlife) made orphans by people,” said Gloria Morissette, founder of the centre.

Morissette said the most common cause is people live-trapping and relocating the mother.

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“Whenever you see an adult wild animal in your attic, your shed, your garage, she has babies in there this time of year,” she said.

“Trapping her (and) relocating her to another area, first of all, it decreases her rate of survival by 50 per cent or more and you will hear the chattering noises of hungry babies a few days later.”

Secondary nests

Morissette said there are other ways homeowners can handle the situation while still keeping the family unit intact.

“There (are) deterrents you can put up into the attic that will encourage the mother to move her babies,” she said.

“They often have a secondary nest site set up. So when one nest site is no longer safe or she feels uncomfortable ... she will take her babies and move them.”

Turtle Pond encourages homeowners to call wildlife centres for advice on dealing with wild animals and potential babies on their property.

“If it’s in a boat, just take a tarp off a boat and that usually works most of the time,” Morissette said.

“If it’s in an attic, it can be a little bit more complicated depending on the size of the space, but you can use scent deterrents like ammonia-soaked rags or Apple cider vinegar.”

Officials at Turtle Pond said it’s often at capacity when it comes to housing orphaned baby raccoons and squirrels by early June. That means caregivers are forced to make the heartbreaking decision to turn away baby animals.

The centre’s annual budget is more than $300,000 to feed and care for animals, birds and reptiles.

It receives no government funding and is currently holding a fundraising online auction with details on its website.