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The animal was transported to Port Colborne from northern Ontario as a rescue.
Publication date:
August 3, 2022 • 16 hours ago • 1 minute read • 15 comments An arctic wolf. Photo by Stock art/Getty Images
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There is a white wolf on the loose in Port Colborne.
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Niagara Regional Police are warning residents to be aware that an arctic white wolf is on the loose in the area and should be avoided.
The wolf escaped its enclosure Tuesday morning by burrowing under a fence at a property on Main St. W. and Cement Rd. area
Police said there have been several sightings by the public.
The wild animal was still on the run as of midday Wednesday, confirmed Const. Phil Gavin, who said the public has been asked to stay away from the animal.
“We recognize that the community has an interest in this, but we have asked them not to approach or go looking for the animal,” Gavin said.
“We hope to avoid any negative interaction between the wolf and the public that would make this situation not end well.”
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Police are working with the City of Port Colborne and the Niagara Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to capture the animal, which was flown to Port Colborne from Northern Ontario as a rescue.
“It’s amazing how many different animals live in your community,” said Gavin, who noted that there is a simultaneous investigation by the city and the SPCA into whether the animal fits the ordinances exotic animals of the area.
Meanwhile, “we never want to force the situation,” he said. “If she’s caught safely, that’s what’s important.”
On the Niagara 411 Facebook page, a Port Colborne resident posted a photo of what he said was the escaped animal.
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In a news release Wednesday, Niagara 0olice reiterated that the public should stay away from the wolf, saying that cornering or chasing the animal will make it more difficult to capture.
The statement warns: “The public in the area is being advised to be aware of their personal safety and that of their pets.”
Anyone who sees the wolf is asked to call the Niagara SPCA at 905-735-1552 ext. 3 or the police at 905-688-4111 ext. 5010.