Alleged raccoon killing attempt leads to arrest
Police search for some missing kits
CBC News
Posted: Jun 1, 2011 8:19 AM ET
Last Updated: Jun 1, 2011 8:54 PM ET
This is one of the raccoons that was allegedly being attacked Wednesday morning. (Tony Smyth/CBC)
Toronto police have arrested a man whose neighbour alleges was trying to kill baby raccoons in his backyard with a shovel.
Police were called shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday by a neighbour on Rankin Crescent, near Symington Avenue and Bloor Street West just west of downtown Toronto.
The neighbour alleged the man used a shovel to repeatedly hit what appeared to be family of raccoons, Const. Victor Kwong said.
"It's alleged now that this man was striking the baby raccoons while the mother raccoon — we assume it is the mother raccoon — was sitting there watching and trying to go in every second to scoop them out one by one," he said.
Dong Nguyen, 53, has been charged with cruelty to animals and possessing a dangerous weapon.
He is scheduled to appear in court on July 13.
Sgt. Chad Nicolle, who was on the scene at the time of the arrest, said police have been unable to find all of the baby raccoons, also known as kits. The mother had already moved the kits away from the area by the time police arrived, he said.
"We were able to find one of the injured animals. It's a baby raccoon. Animal services has already come and treated the animal," said Nicolle.
The neighbour alleged the man had engaged in similar behaviour in the past.
It's believed the man was frustrated with the damage raccoons were causing in his garden.
Killing a raccoon is illegal in Toronto. The city's animal control department will only get involved if the animal is injured, sick or dead.
Coyote urine an effective repellent
That has frustrated homeowners looking for ways to deter raccoons from getting into their garbage and homes.
Paul Oliver, a co-owner of the Urban Nature Store, told CBC News some are turning to coyote urine.
“The animals are very sensitive to being in areas where they think predators are around and so it’s very effective. Raccoons are very smart animals, so they learn very quickly when there’s a predator around so they learn to stay away."
Other suggestions included motion sensor sprinklers to scare off raccoons with a blast of water.
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is prepared to end the Canadian Pacific Railway strike if necessary, after both CP and the union rejected a proposal for voluntary arbitration by the government-appointed negotiator on Sunday. Raitt says she is "extremely disappointed." more »
- Quebec students and province to resume talks
- Quebec's university student federation has confirmed negotiations between student leaders and the provincial government will resume Monday afternoon. more »
- Tropical storm Beryl strikes southeast U.S. coast
- Tropical storm Beryl has arrived at the southeastern U.S. coast, bringing heavy rain, winds and the possibility of flooding. more »
- Vatican corruption scandal widens
- One of the Vatican's biggest scandals in decades appears to be widening with reports that an Italian cardinal may be part of a power struggle involving leaked documents, corruption and intrigue. more »
- Baby boomer data will highlight upcoming policy challenges
- New census data is expected to show how old Canadian society is becoming, effecting massive changes to the country's health-care and retirement systems. more »
Latest Canada News Headlines
- Baby boomer data will highlight upcoming policy challenges
- New census data is expected to show how old Canadian society is becoming, effecting massive changes to the country's health-care and retirement systems. more »
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is prepared to end the Canadian Pacific Railway strike if necessary, after both CP and the union rejected a proposal for voluntary arbitration by the government-appointed negotiator on Sunday. Raitt says she is "extremely disappointed." more »
- Diamond Jubilee a chance for youth to honour Canada's Queen
- In the Queen's Diamond Jubilee year, a group of young monarchists is out to prove that allegiance to the Crown isn't all "tea and corgis" but can stem from an interest in the value of constitutional monarchy and Canadian identity. more »
- Accused in blast that killed Alberta mom handled her funds
- The man charged with the first-degree murder of a disabled Alberta woman was her financial adviser, according to the victim's sister. more »
The National
The Current
- What does it take to get fired at the RCMP? May. 25, 2012 5:02 PM After a senior Mountie was demoted for disgraceful conduct including sex with subordinates, exposing himself and drinking on the job, some former employees wonder what you have to do to get fired.
- Remains found in bag on Cape Breton river ID'd
- Seniors float above Montreal's Quartier Latin
- Accused in blast that killed Alberta mom handled her funds
- Neighbour may have helped find missing kids in Mexico
- Quebec students and province to resume talks
- Runner dies after collapsing in Cape Breton race
- Canadian Pacific strikers face back-to-work legislation
- Lip-dub marriage proposal an internet hit
- Justin Bieber wanted for questioning in L.A. scuffle
