Squirrels found sick, dead after 'toxic substance' left in Richmond, B.C., park
A number of squirrels have been reported sick or dead this month after a "toxic substance" was left in a park in Richmond, B.C., according to police.
Richmond resident Stephanie Payne says two of her friends were out for a walk in South Arm Park last Wednesday, when they came across multiple squirrels either deceased or in grave condition.
"They saw five squirrels that were pretty much almost dead," she said
One of the women immediately reported the distressed squirrels to the BC SPCA and the City of Richmond, which prompted firefighters and city staff to cordon off parts of the area for public safety.
Firefighters scoured the park and discovered a toxic chemical around some of the trees. The compound, known as 1-octanethiol, can cause headaches and vomiting in humans. If handled incorrectly, it can be deadly.
“We want to know who put it there and why it was put there,” says Cpl. Adriana O’Malley, spokesperson for Richmond RCMP.
Police confirm the toxic material has since been safely removed by an environment clean-up crew and the park is fully reopened.
As investigators search for a motive, Payne has her own suspicion of why a toxic substance was dumped in the park. She has frequented the greenspace for the past five years and in that time, she says the squirrel population has grown significantly. Payne believes someone must be fed up with the critters.
“There was so many," she said. "Now, I walk the park and am like why am I not seeing any squirrels? It’s just really odd.”
Payne’s friends have put up posters on trees throughout the park, warning pet owners and people with young children about the harmful chemicals. They’ve also spread the word in community groups online. Richmond RCMP is urging park users to be vigilant.
“If you’re going to the park and you start to see wildlife that appears sick or you’re finding deceased wildlife, make sure you contact the city of Richmond of police,” says Cpl. O’Malley.
Mounties says the chemical has not been found in any other parks so far, and there have not been any reports of people or family pets falling ill.
Anyone who has information on the incident, or who witnesses someone dumping substances at the base of trees in Richmond, is asked to call the RCMP at 604-278-1212. People who want to remain anonymous can instead call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Indian envoy warns of 'big red line,' days after charges laid in Nijjar case
India's envoy to Canada insists relations between the two countries are positive overall, despite what he describes as 'a lot of noise.'
Stormy Daniels describes meeting Trump during occasionally graphic testimony in hush money trial
With Donald Trump sitting just feet away, Stormy Daniels testified Tuesday at the former president's hush money trial about a sexual encounter the porn actor says they had in 2006 that resulted in her being paid to keep silent during the presidential race 10 years later.
U.S. paused bomb shipment to Israel to signal concerns over Rafah invasion, official says
The U.S. paused a shipment of bombs to Israel last week over concerns that Israel was approaching a decision on launching a full-scale assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah against the wishes of the U.S.
Former homicide detective explains how police will investigate shooting outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Footage from dozens of security cameras in the area of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion could be the key to identifying the suspect responsible for shooting and seriously injuring a security guard outside the rapper’s sprawling home early Tuesday morning, a former Toronto homicide detective says.
Northern Ont. woman makes 'eggstraordinary' find
A chicken farmer near Mattawa made an 'eggstraordinary' find Friday morning when she discovered one of her hens laid an egg close to three times the size of an average large chicken egg.
Susan Buckner, who played spirited cheerleader Patty Simcox in 'Grease,' dead at 72
Susan Buckner, best known for playing peppy Rydell High School cheerleader Patty Simcox in the 1978 classic movie musical 'Grease,' has died. She was 72.
Jeremy Skibicki has 'uphill battle' to prove he's not criminally responsible in Winnipeg killings: legal analysts
Accused killer Jeremy Skibicki could have a challenging time convincing a judge that he is not criminally responsible for the deaths of four Indigenous women, a legal analyst says.
Bye-bye bag fee: Calgary repeals single-use bylaw
A Calgary bylaw requiring businesses to charge a minimum bag fee and only provide single-use items when requested has officially been tossed.
Alcohol believed to be a factor in boating incident after 2 men die: N.S. RCMP
Two Nova Scotia men are dead after a boat they were travelling in sank in the Annapolis River in Granville Centre, N.S., on Monday.