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     L ‘— 
     
     by Richard Pratt, Conservation Director 
     
     CANADIAN NATURE FEDERATION 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     RACCOON DOGS - THE ENVIRONMENTAL THREAT MUST BE ENDED 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     In September, 1980, an exotic wildlife species, the European racCoon dog 
     
     (Nyctereutes procyonoides) was imported into Ontario from Finland to establish 
     
     a fur farm breeding operation (see Nature Canada, April/June 1981). 
     
    

    
     The raccoon dog is quite prolific - the original 140 animals increased to 
     
     over 500 in 1981. The European experience shows that its high reproductive 
     
     capability and adaptibility poses an environmental hazard. It has spread from 
     
     Russia into Scandanavian countries, France and Poland. A Guelph University report 
     
     documents severe impacts on indigenous wildlife, particularly waterfowl and 
     
     ground nesting birds. The animal is a depradator of crops and domestic fowl and 
     
     is a carrier of parasites and rabies. 
     
    

    
     The possibility that raccoon dogs could become established in the Canadian 
     
     wild and supplant native wildlife led the Canadian Nature Federation and other 
     
     conservation groups to press government for an end to the fur farming operation 
     
     in Ontario and the removal of the animals from Canada. 
     
    

    
     The federal government responded in several ways. An Order-in—Council added 
     
     raccoon dogs to the Import Control List of the Export and Import Permits Act. 
     
     This action bans any further import of raccoon dogs into Canada. Further, the 
     
     Foreign Investment Review Agengy found that the Finnish investment was not in the 
     
     'best interests of Canada because of potential ecological problems, but a change 
     
     to Canadian ownership has allowed the fur farm to continue. Federal negotiations 
     
     with the operation's Owner, to ship the breeding stock back to Finland, were not 
     
     successful. 
     
    

    
     To my knowledge, the government of Ontario did little to prevent the import 
     
     of raccoon dogs and has not sought to end the fur farm operation at Madoc. Most 
     
     provincial and territorial governments have prohibited the import of raccoon 
     
     dogs into their jurisdictions from Ontario. However, the prospect remains that 
     
     further operations may be established in Ontario and that animals could spread 
     
     throughout Canada by escape. 
     
    

    
     The events surrounding the raccoon dog problem raise a larger, very important 
     
     issue - the need for federal legislation which would ban the import or export of 
     
     wildlife into or out of Canada or into or out of any province or territory, 
     
     except under permit. The passage of such legislation requires consensus of the 
     
     provinces and the territories. 
     
    

    
     The impetus for legislation (a Wildlife Export and Import Act) was first 
     
     given by the Federal-Provincial Wildlife Conference in 1968. Governments were 
     
     urged to prohibit the import of non-indigenous species of wildlife into any 
     
     province or territory of Canada, except under certain circumstances. We under- 
     
     stand that, as a result of the raccoon dog controversy, legislation was proposed 
     
     to the provinces by the federal government. 
     
    

    
     We need your help to stop the import into Canada of potentially damaging 
     
     exotic wildlife. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? - SEE NEXT PAGE.