Open Sky Raptor Foundation

05/07/2026

It's that time of year - baby season!
It's not just raccoons or opossums, it's so many other animals out there 'making' families. One of the biggest that are seen all over are goslings!
These cuties are the "I want to cuddle" critters that need the warmth and protection of their parents.
But sometimes that just isn't available.
So, if you see a gosling running around on its own, take a step back and see if mom and dad are around. If it's in the middle of a road and life is in danger, then yes, pick it up and get it out of the way. But still look about and see if parents are around.
DON'T try and put it with any geese with goslings that you see. They may or may not take it with them but come nightfall they will abandon it as it is not theirs. I have seen this countless times.
It's like they will babysit for the day but come night 'go home' attitude. A lot of people will watch them during the day and think, "that's great, they've got a mom and dad who has taken them in" and they leave. Not knowing what the night holds for the gosling.
NOT ALL GEESE ARE GREAT FOSTER PARENTS.
If someone tells you to take it back to where you found it and the parents will find it, then you may be relegating the baby to certain death. That type of advice is only good if you have done that in the first few minutes of finding it and the parents are actually honking nearby and baby runs to them or parents come at you for having their baby!
Goslings are easy to raise, but imprint on humans very quickly. In fact, the first thing they see in life, when their eyes are seeing well enough, becomes their 'momma'
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
Well, if you have truly found an orphaned or injured gosling (or any other baby animal -'cept the human kind), contact a rehabber.
But first MAKE CERTAIN they are taking in birds/babies/waterfowl. Some rehabbers have birds on their list but because of Avian Influenza they actually won't take in ANY birds (and sometimes if they do, they will euthanize it - just because).
It's a sad world, yes, that allows fear to lead our first reactions.
But there are people out there who know how to care for them, how to make it so they don't imprint on them, and how to release them back into the wild so they once again have a chance at freedom.
It's okay if you ask questions of a rehabber. Just know that you have 24 hours to get that bird to a rehabber.
Just know your rehabber and know that as cute and cuddly they are, they do grow into large, p**p everywhere, very territorial birds with wings that hurt like hell if they attack and their bite isn't soft either.

10/01/2025

The Provincial Government is at it again! They want to AMEND the Endangered Species Act and call it Species Conservation Act! BUT the name change also includes the gov't deciding who should be on that list and have taken out the section on 'harassment' of wildlife. This would also mean that ANYONE can remove, kill or harm ANY wildlife they deem to be a nuisance on their property or property they intend to build on. In other words, any industry can build on lands that once were protected from building. They can fill in wetlands, take down eagles' nests, take out any habitat that animals like snapping turtles, monarch butterflies et al exist in. Please, go to this posting site,
put in your comments (posting #025-0380 on the Environmental Registry of Ontario) about getting rid of the new SCA ,
and then share the hell out of it. It's the only way we can help our wildlife.

10/01/2025

One of the greatest advocates for environmental knowledge in the current time of this world has died.
We should all mourn the loss greatly.
Not just because of the loss but because of the silence.
R.I.P. JANE Dr. Jane Goodall

09/29/2025

https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-0781
Please put in your two cents worth. If Trappers are going to 'have the burden of yearly reports' removed or are currently having issues with 'humanely killing their trapped animals after dark' or how they want to open up the 'closed season' on beavers - which is the time of year when young are born, which may leave the young without parents and would end up suffering through starvation in the lodge - OR any other BS in this proposal, please be heard.
Oh yeah, that burden of paperwork is done by lots of licensed and authorized people EVERY year (rehabbers, falconers, tourist outfitters, etc.), so sad for the trappers...can we get rid of that burden too???

We are proposing changes to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens and enable increased economic opportunities for licensed trappers and fur dealers in Ontario.

09/25/2025

What kind of species are we to leave the world empty of the sounds of nature?

09/25/2025

🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲

08/24/2025

check out the news with key words - global, [wolf and Ontario Man], and news

08/24/2025

The MNR is VERY QUICK to euthanize animals - they seem to take their cue from CFIA or vice versa!
The MNR does NOT have facilities to house these animals AT ALL. They either use rehabbers for a 'time' or kill them.
Why they don't open conversations with anyone is beyond me! They are supposed to be looking out for our wildlife. If they say they are NOT true wildlife (because they are hybrids) and they are not getting put into the true wildlife population, they why are they concerned - especially with the set up these people have to contain them.
Please, please, please help to stop the MNR from killing off another set of animals with their lies of 'looking out for our wildlife'.

06/25/2024

It always amazes me how we can distinguish amongst ourselves as to who is 'right' or 'wrong', who should own what, who can live where, who gets the best and who gets the throw aways.
We live in a world, created by ourselves, of 'this or that'. No grey areas, no equalities amongst ourselves, but we claim to be the most intelligent on this planet.
If we cannot treat each other with the respect and love required to survive for millions of years, how will we exist.
We should maybe ask the experts - or at least observe how they've done it!
The animals of earth - all those species except the human animal - will live for years to come (if we don't wipe them out before hand) HOPEFULLY in spite of us.

06/18/2024

CURRENTLY NO WILDLIFE HELP IS AVAILABLE!!!



There IS a shortage of Rehabbers in Ontario.

Rehabbers receive NO government support.

Rehabbers receive NO government funding.

Rehabbers DEPEND on volunteers, private donations and our own fundraising.

Rehabbers reach FULL CAPACITY very quickly.



THIS IS BEYOND OUR CONTROL!!!!!



Raise your concerns about rescued wildlife, with no option for help by calling:



Katie Consack, MNR - Manager Partnership Services Section, 613-484-6053 [email protected]
Hon. Graydon Smith, appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry [email protected]
Doug Ford, Ontario Premier, 416-325-1941
Guy Bourgouin, 705-372-6400 [email protected] NDP critic on the MNRF
Natural Resources Information and Support Centre at 1-800-387-7011 or [email protected]. You can also contact online at: ontario.ca/mnrf
Your local MPP

Protecting Ontario’s biodiversity while promoting economic opportunities in the resource sector and supporting outdoor recreation opportunities. Get an Outdoors Card

06/15/2024

I know this is a long read, but if you want to know about the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act and how it governs rehabbers, you might want to sit with a 'cuppa' and read through this. Some parts (as par for the course with government) are confusing or lead to 'nowhere'.
But, do take note of Section 44 (3) AND 46 (7)
PS these are the current laws - sometimes changing without notification (in fact all times) [Even Boomer is confused and mad at these rules] (pic)

Part III
LIVE WILDLIFE AND FISH
Wildlife in captivity
40 (1) A person shall not keep live game wildlife or live specially protected wildlife in captivity except under the authority of a licence and in accordance with the regulations. 1997, c. 41, s. 40 (1).

Exceptions
(2) Despite subsection (1), the following persons may keep live game wildlife or live specially protected wildlife in captivity without a licence:

1. A person who keeps game amphibians or game reptiles in captivity for the purpose of personal consumption.

2. A person who keeps in captivity for the purposes of personal education a single game reptile, game amphibian, specially protected mammal, specially protected reptile, specially protected amphibian or specially protected invertebrate, unless it belongs to a species that is listed on,

i. the Species at Risk in Ontario List under the Endangered Species Act, 2007, or

ii. the List of Wildlife Species at Risk under the Species at Risk Act (Canada).

3. A wildlife custodian who, in accordance with section 44, keeps injured, sick or immature game wildlife or specially protected wildlife in captivity for the purpose of rehabilitating or caring for them.

4. A person who does so in accordance with the authorization of the Minister.

5. A person who does so in the circumstances prescribed by the regulations. 2012, c. 8, Sched. 16, s. 5.

Hunting wildlife to keep in captivity
(3) A person shall not hunt or trap game wildlife or specially protected wildlife for the purpose of keeping it in captivity unless the person does so,

(a) in accordance with the authorization of the Minister; or

(b) in the circumstances prescribed by the regulations. 2012, c. 8, Sched. 16, s. 5.

(4) Repealed: 2012, c. 8, Sched. 16, s. 5.

Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y)

Hunting animals in captivity
41 (1) A person shall not hunt or permit the hunting of,

(a) a farmed animal; or

(b) game wildlife, specially protected wildlife or any other wildlife prescribed by the regulations, if the wildlife is in captivity at the time it is hunted.

Exceptions
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to the hunting of game birds in a game bird hunting preserve or in an area prescribed by the regulations.

Other exceptions
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply in the circumstances prescribed by the regulations. 1997, c. 41, s. 41.

Marking birds of prey
42 A person who keeps a specially protected raptor in captivity, or who keeps another bird of prey prescribed by the regulations in captivity, shall mark it in the manner prescribed by the regulations and shall keep the records prescribed by the regulations. 1997, c. 41, s. 42.

Wildlife in transit
43 Except as prescribed by the regulations, subsection 40 (1) and section 42 do not apply to wildlife that originated outside Ontario and is in Ontario temporarily in transit or in quarantine. 1997, c. 41, s. 43.

Wildlife custodians
44 (1) In this section,

“wildlife custodian” means a person who may, under subsection (2), keep injured, sick or immature game wildlife or specially protected wildlife in captivity for the purpose of rehabilitating or caring for them. 1997, c. 41, s. 44 (1); 2012, c. 8, Sched. 16, s. 6 (1).

Rehabilitation and care
(2) A person may keep injured, sick or immature game wildlife or specially protected wildlife in captivity for the purpose of rehabilitating or caring for them only if the person does so,

(a) in accordance with the authorization of the Minister; or

(b) in the circumstances prescribed by the regulations. 2012, c. 8, Sched. 16, s. 6 (2).

No remuneration
(3) A wildlife custodian is not entitled to any remuneration from the Minister. 1997, c. 41, s. 44 (3).

Wildlife not capable of release
(4) A wildlife custodian may kill injured, sick or immature game wildlife or specially protected wildlife that, in the custodian’s opinion, will not be capable of being released into the wild after appropriate care only if the wildlife custodian does so,

(a) in accordance with the authorization of the Minister; or

(b) in the circumstances prescribed by the regulations. 2012, c. 8, Sched. 16, s. 6 (3).

Surrender to Minister
(5) On the request of the Minister, a wildlife custodian shall surrender to the Minister any game wildlife or specially protected wildlife in the custodian’s possession, whether it is alive or dead, or shall dispose of it in such manner as the Minister may direct. 1997, c. 41, s. 44 (5).

Liability of Crown
(6) The Crown in right of Ontario is not liable for any act or omission of a wildlife custodian and no action or other proceeding for damages may be instituted against the Crown in right of Ontario for any loss arising from the act or omission of a wildlife custodian. 1997, c. 41, s. 44 (6).

Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y)

Propagation of wildlife
45 (1) A person shall not propagate or offer to propagate game wildlife or specially protected wildlife, or possess it for the purpose of propagation, except under the authority of a licence and in accordance with the regulations. 1997, c. 41, s. 45 (1).

Exceptions
(2) Despite subsection (1), a person may, without a licence, propagate or offer to propagate game wildlife or specially protected wildlife, or possess it for the purpose of propagation, if the person does so,

(a) in accordance with the authorization of the Minister; or

(b) in the circumstances prescribed by the regulations. 2012, c. 8, Sched. 16, s. 7.

Section Amendments with date in force (d/m/y)

Release of wildlife
46 (1) A person shall not release a farmed animal and shall not release game wildlife or specially protected wildlife that is kept in captivity unless the person does so,

(a) in accordance with the authorization of the Minister; or

(b) in the circumstances prescribed by the regulations. 2012, c. 8, Sched. 16, s. 8 (1).

Escape
(2) A person who keeps a farmed animal or who keeps game wildlife or specially protected wildlife in captivity shall ensure that it does not escape. 1997, c. 41, s. 46 (2).

Obligations on escape or release
(3) If, despite subsection (1) or (2), a farmed animal or game wildlife or specially protected wildlife escapes or is released without authorization or in circumstances not permitted under subsection (1), the person who kept it in captivity,

(a) shall immediately notify the Minister; and

(b) unless otherwise directed by the Minister, shall return the farmed animal or wildlife to captivity or kill it as soon as practicable. 1997, c. 41, s. 46 (3); 2012, c. 8, Sched. 16, s. 8 (2).

Exceptions
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply to game wildlife or specially protected wildlife that was kept in captivity for the purpose of rehabilitation or care under section 44 or that was kept in captivity for the purpose of personal education under paragraph 2 of subsection 40 (2). 1997, c. 41, s. 46 (4).

Certain provisions do not apply
(5) Sections 5 and 6, clauses 11 (1) (a) to (d), sections 20 and 27 and such other provisions of this Act and the regulations as are prescribed by the regulations do not apply to a person who captures or kills a farmed animal or wildlife under subsection (3). 1997, c. 41, s. 46 (5).

Minister’s powers
(6) If the Minister is of the opinion that a person has not complied with clause (3) (b), the Minister may capture or kill the farmed animal or wildlife without incurring any liability. 1997, c. 41, s. 46 (6).

Minister’s expenses
(7) The person who kept the farmed animal or wildlife in captivity is liable to the Minister for all expenses incurred by the Minister under subsection (6) unless the escape or release was caused by a natural disaster or act of vandalism that was beyond the control of the person. 1997, c. 41, s. 46 (7).