If you are the owner of the building what other options you have?.
Dozens of baby ring-billed gulls were intentionally blown off a Pickering building with a high-powered water blaster Wednesday night, a local animal charity is alleging.
“Apparently there were complaints in the building about the nesting colony and the landlord took it upon himself to hire someone to deal with it,” said Toronto Wildlife Centre executive director Nathalie Karvoven. “And there’s absolutely no way that someone could have not known there was dozens and dozens of little tiny, fluffy birds being blasted off the roof onto the pavement. So, after the first one happened, how could anyone not know?”
The impact of the water blast sent birds, the smallest weighing about 68 grams, onto the pavement one storey below. About 14 birds were found dead by SPCA investigators and volunteers, some in a dumpster.
Two more birds had to be euthanized at the Toronto Wildlife Centre because of smashed bones in their wings and legs, said Karvoven.
At least 34 birds have been brought to the centre alive and will be cared for as orphans until they’re strong enough to be released into the wild. During the alleged attack on their nests, the parent birds reportedly flew around “franticly, unable to stop the cruel act,” according to the charity, which focuses on assisting injured, distressed and orphaned wildlife.
The ring-billed gulls, which nest in colonies, are federally protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, which means their nests, eggs and fledglings are protected from disturbance or destruction during the breeding season, according to Environment Canada spokesperson Mark Johnson. He verified that Environment Canada has received a complaint and dispatched a wildlife officer to review the issue.
Karvoven said that whoever is responsible could face charges under the act, as well as animal cruelty charges.
Records show the building in question, at 940 Brock Rd., is owned by GTA Industrial Properties Inc. The company did not return a request for comment Friday.
Debby Houghton, an SPCA officer for the Durham Region Humane Society, said Friday that there is an ongoing investigation.
Asked if she believed the birds were intentionally blown off the building, Houghton said: “Right now it seems that way.”
She added that several tips came in, one, for example, describing someone standing on the roof of the building hosing down the birds.
Karvoven said in a news release that it was unfortunate the property owners “acted with such disregard for the suffering of the birds.”
“There are always better solutions for conflict situations with the wildlife that share our communities with us, and we really encourage people to research those options before taking any action,” she said.
https://www.thestar.com/news/articl...op-with-power-washer-says-animal-charity?bn=1
Dozens of baby ring-billed gulls were intentionally blown off a Pickering building with a high-powered water blaster Wednesday night, a local animal charity is alleging.
“Apparently there were complaints in the building about the nesting colony and the landlord took it upon himself to hire someone to deal with it,” said Toronto Wildlife Centre executive director Nathalie Karvoven. “And there’s absolutely no way that someone could have not known there was dozens and dozens of little tiny, fluffy birds being blasted off the roof onto the pavement. So, after the first one happened, how could anyone not know?”
The impact of the water blast sent birds, the smallest weighing about 68 grams, onto the pavement one storey below. About 14 birds were found dead by SPCA investigators and volunteers, some in a dumpster.
Two more birds had to be euthanized at the Toronto Wildlife Centre because of smashed bones in their wings and legs, said Karvoven.
At least 34 birds have been brought to the centre alive and will be cared for as orphans until they’re strong enough to be released into the wild. During the alleged attack on their nests, the parent birds reportedly flew around “franticly, unable to stop the cruel act,” according to the charity, which focuses on assisting injured, distressed and orphaned wildlife.
The ring-billed gulls, which nest in colonies, are federally protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act, which means their nests, eggs and fledglings are protected from disturbance or destruction during the breeding season, according to Environment Canada spokesperson Mark Johnson. He verified that Environment Canada has received a complaint and dispatched a wildlife officer to review the issue.
Karvoven said that whoever is responsible could face charges under the act, as well as animal cruelty charges.
Records show the building in question, at 940 Brock Rd., is owned by GTA Industrial Properties Inc. The company did not return a request for comment Friday.
Debby Houghton, an SPCA officer for the Durham Region Humane Society, said Friday that there is an ongoing investigation.
Asked if she believed the birds were intentionally blown off the building, Houghton said: “Right now it seems that way.”
She added that several tips came in, one, for example, describing someone standing on the roof of the building hosing down the birds.
Karvoven said in a news release that it was unfortunate the property owners “acted with such disregard for the suffering of the birds.”
“There are always better solutions for conflict situations with the wildlife that share our communities with us, and we really encourage people to research those options before taking any action,” she said.
https://www.thestar.com/news/articl...op-with-power-washer-says-animal-charity?bn=1
