Wildlife

Coyotes
There is no bounty for Coyote hides through the County of Oxford office. For further information, please contact the Ministry of Natural Resources, Aylmer office to enquire. 615 John Street North, Aylmer, ON N5H 2S8.
Telephone 519-773-9241.
Rabbit and Pheasant Hunting
Rabbit and pheasant licences are not required in the Township of Zorra – as noted in Township By-law 43-09.
Wildlife in Residential Areas
Occasionally you may notice wild animals like raccoons and foxes wandering around in built up areas. Most times if you leave it alone, the animal will eventually make its way back to where it belongs.
Raccoons are nocturnal so they sleep during the day. If you see a raccoon active during the day, DO NOT approach it. Ensure your yard is free of things that may attract wildlife (garbage, food, etc.). If the raccoon appears to be sick (rabies, distemper, etc.), you may wish to consult a Wildlife Removal professional. If you choose to have an animal removed, it will be at your own expense.
Wildlife rehabilitators in Ontario are authorized by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to care for injured, sick or orphaned wildlife until they can be released back into the wild. These rehabilitators work in a range of environments, from a large facility to their own backyard. For more information, visit the MNR website.
Rabies
Rabies is caused by a virus that can infect any mammal, including humans. Birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish do not get rabies. In infected mammals, the virus is found in saliva and can be spread through three main ways:
- Bites that break the skin
- Getting infected saliva in an open cut, sore, or other wound
- Getting infected saliva in the mouth, nose, or eyes
The animals that most often transmit rabies in Ontario are bats, foxes, skunks and raccoons. Once signs of rabies appear, in any animal, the disease is virtually always fatal. A series of vaccinations and treatment with rabies antibodies can prevent infection in humans in most cases if administered soon after exposure.
If you suspect a wild animal may have rabies:
- if humans have been exposed, report the incident to your local health unit, doctor or local emergency department
- if a domestic animal has been exposed, call your veterinarian
- if you’re a veterinarian and need help assessing whether an animal has been exposed to rabies, call the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Agricultural Information Contact Centre at 1-877-424-1300
- if neither a human nor an animal has been exposed, call the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) Rabies Information Line at 1-888-574-6656
Visit the Ontario website for more information about rabies.
Sunday Hunting
Sunday gun hunting is not permitted in the Township of Zorra. Click here for a map of municipalities that allow gun hunting on Sundays. Click here for a list of municipalities that permit gun hunting on Sundays. As always, you must obtain consent from the landowner before hunting on private lands. Visit the MNR website for more information.