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Email: timberwolfinfonetwork@gmail.com

CA ON: Wolf with Mange spotted at City Landfill

By Lynne Brown

Saultonline has been tracking a story that involves a wolf sighting at The City of Sault Ste. Marie’s Landfill site on 5th Line. A concerned citizen, Amanda Mora, spotted the wolf, and was shocked by its general appearance.

Mora said she recently went to the city dump and while there, a wolf came within about 15 feet of her vehicle. She was able to snap pictures, which she provided to Saultonline. The sighting of a wolf with mange was upsetting, and happened while Sault Ste. Marie was in the grip of serious, life-threatening frigid temperatures last week.

“I assumed that the wolf has mange.” she said. The attendant at the dump told her that the city had notified the MNRF about the wolf.”

“I wanted to find out if I could help the wolf – I don’t see why we would let an animal suffer when a potential treatment is available.” said Mora. “I get the whole circle of life thing – but I think we owe it to them to give them the opportunity to thrive. Mora, who raises chickens, is networked with several farmers, and reached out to her circle, including through social media, to find out if there was a treatment for mange. Her research proved fruitful, learning that a simple and inexpensive treatment for mange is available.

According to Cornell University’s Wildlife Laboratory, ‘Oral administration of Ivermectin can treat mange but is not typically used in free-ranging wildlife because of the need for repeat treatments several weeks apart. Topical treatments that can kill mites for extended periods after a single dose may be more effective. Some healthy animals may resolve their mange without intervention.’ https://cwhl.ahdc.vet.cornell.edu/disease/mange

Mora stated that she was willing to pay for the medication in the event an intervention was attempted. Mora suggested injecting the medication into a piece of deer meat, thrown directly to the wolf, two or three times over the next month, increasing the wolfs’ ability to cope with the extreme cold.”

“Without some sort of help, this wolf may not make it. The sub-zero temperatures create enough hardships for the wolf. Mange, while it looks scary, is a treatable condition.”

Wolf with Mange
Wolf with Mange. Photo courtesy Yellowstone National Park.(USA) Public record.

‘Sarcoptic mange’ is commonly found on red fox, wolves, and coyotes in North America. Mange causes wolves to scratch and lose their fur. An infected wolf can lose enough body heat in the winter to freeze to death.

Mange is a class of skin diseases caused by parasitic mites. Since mites also infect plants, birds, and reptiles, the term “mange”, suggesting poor condition of the hairy coat due to the infection, is sometimes reserved only for pathological mite-infestation of nonhuman mammals.

“The attendant (at the Landfill) told me that they had already contacted a man who would probably be coming to trap the animal.” said Mora.

Saultonline reached out to the City of Sault Ste. Marie. “Following a resident’s call and in an effort to assist the animal, we have had a discussion with Aspen Valley Animal Sanctuary.” stated Tessa Vecchio, City of Sault Ste. Marie’s Corporate Communication Officer.

“It’s important to note that the City does not have a policy regarding intervening with wildlife. The City does not have the authority to trap animals. For obvious reasons there are a number of safety concerns with having the public intervene with wildlife situations. However, in an effort to help the animal, we have had a discussion with Aspen Valley Animal Sanctuary who could get permission from the MNRF and advise on how to proceed.” stated Vecchio.

‘Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary was started in the early 1970s by a caring individual who wanted to help rehabilitate orphaned wildlife. Over 40 years later, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary has grown in to a leader in wildlife rehabilitation.

Situated in Muskoka (Rosseau,Ontario), Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is a 460 acre sanctuary of natural habitat. Our primary mandate is to rehabilitate animals who find their way to us so that they can eventually be returned to their natural habitat. We also provide education to the community about co-existing with wildlife and humane solutions for wildlife-related issues. The size of Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary makes us one of the most unique and important wildlife rehabilitation centres in Ontario.’ http://www.aspenvalley.ca

At of publication, we have not received confirmation from Aspen Valley Animal Sanctuary. Saultonline will continue to track the story.

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