‘Mass poisoning’ suspected in deaths of 9 Metro Vancouver skunks
In just over a week, nine skunks have been taken to a rehabilitation centre in Langley suffering from symptoms of poisoning.
Staff at Critter Care Wildlife Society did everything they could, but not a single one survived.
Seven were found in Richmond, and then over the weekend, two more were discovered in Vancouver.
Some skunks were dead on arrival, while others had trouble breathing, were foaming at the mouth, and were suffering from seizures, unconsciousness and distress.
“Something is very wrong, there is a mass poisoning,” said Lesley Fox of the animal advocacy group The Fur-Bearers.
It’s not clear whether the skunks were targeted directly, or whether they ingested a substance meant for rodents.
Either way, Fox is reminding the public that most poisons are forbidden by law, because “poison is extremely inhumane and it’s extremely dangerous,” she warned.
It’s also bad for the ecosystem. For example, an owl may be poisoned after eating a poisoned mouse or rat.
A family pet might also ingest something toxic.
“It’s really important for The Fur-bearers to sound the alarm that something is wrong,” said Fox.
“In my entire time at The Fur-Bearers I’ve never seen anything like this.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Chants of 'shame on you' greet guests arriving for the annual White House correspondents' dinner
An election-year roast of U.S. President Joe Biden before journalists, celebrities and politicians at the annual White House correspondents' dinner Saturday.
What is a 'halal mortgage'? Does it make housing more accessible?
The 2024 federal budget announced on April 16 included plans to introduce “halal mortgages” as a way to increase access to home ownership.
Here's where Canadians are living abroad: report
A recent report sheds light on Canadians living abroad--estimated at around four million people in 2016—and the public policies that impact them.
Deadly six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 sparked by road rage incident
One person was killed in a six-vehicle crash on Highway 400 in Innisfil Friday evening.
Opinion I just don't get Taylor Swift
It's one thing to say you like Taylor Swift and her music, but don't blame CNN's AJ Willingham's when she says she just 'doesn't get' the global phenomenon.
Invasive and toxic hammerhead worms make themselves at home in Ontario
Ontario is now home to an invasive and toxic worm species that can grow up to three feet long and can be dangerous to small animals and pets.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized after return to New York from upstate prison
Harvey Weinstein’s lawyer said Saturday that the onetime movie mogul has been hospitalized for a battery of tests after his return to New York City following an appeals court ruling nullifying his 2020 rape conviction.
'We are declaring our readiness': No decision made yet as Poland declares it's ready to host nuclear weapons
Polish President Andrzej Duda says while no decision has been made around whether Poland will host nuclear weapons as part of an expansion of the NATO alliance’s nuclear sharing program, his country is willing and prepared to do so.
Central Alberta queer groups react to request from Red Deer-South to reinstate Jennifer Johnson to UCP caucus
A number of LGBQT+2s groups in Central Alberta are pushing back against a request from the Red Deer South UCP constituency to reinstate MLA Jennifer Johnson into the UCP caucus.