Committee nixes new study on problem skunks, raccoons

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This article was published 05/01/2012 (5026 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Council’s protection and community services committee shot down a proposal to find out how big a problem raccoons and skunks are in Winnipeg.

A city report, released Wednesday, revealed that Manitoba Conservation traps and euthanizes about 440 raccoons every year in Winnipeg. Winnipeg’s animal services agency has a skunk trap rental program which was used 85 times in 2010. Skunks are classified as vermin in Manitoba, and the city’s animal services agency also helps capture skunks showing signs of erratic behaviour or illness.

The report said the larger private pest control companies in Winnipeg trap about 440 raccoons and 350 skunks every year. About half of the animals are destroyed, and the other half are released outside city limits, the report said.

Currently, Winnipeg does not have a municipally-subsidized raccoon program, but animal services rents traps for skunks and will euthanize the trapped vermin.

Council’s protection and community services chairwoman Paula Havixbeck (Charleswood-Tuxedo) expressed concern the animals could harm children or pets, and asked city administration to find out whether the number of raccoon and skunk complaints have increased over the past five years.

Elmwood Coun. Thomas Steen voted in favour of the idea, but Couns. Ross Eadie (Mynarski) and Harvey Smith (Daniel McIntyre) did not and the motion failed.

Smith said there are other ways for homeowners to deal with nuisance raccoons and skunks and it does not make sense to increase the role of Winnipeg’s animal services agency.

Animal services COO Leland Gordon said most Canadian cities do not have wildlife control programs to deal with raccoons and skunks. He said Regina is the only city that does, though they get few calls for service.

Gordon said there are 20 private pest-control firms in Winnipeg that remove raccoons for a reasonable cost, and it is up to homeowners to wildlife-proof their home by sealing cracks and having locked lids on garbage cans.

“Animal services should not be asked to increase their workload when they have enough to do now,” Smith said.

Havixbeck said she is disappointed with the outcome of the vote.

Jen.skerritt@freepress.mb.ca