On Saturday May 2, 2026 at 4:25 p.m., Bracebridge OPP officers, along with Muskoka Lakes Fire Department, responded to a concern from a member of the public about the well-being of another driver who was stopped at a stop sign on Rosseau Lake Road 2 at Highway 141 in Muskoka Lakes Township.

The driver fled the area prior to police arrival and was located a short time later. Police have charged 40-year-old Mathew Willaims of Rosseau, ON with Impaired Operation and Careless Storage of a firearm, prohibited device or ammunition X 2.

He will appear in the Ontario Court of Justice on June 16, 2026 to answer to his charges.

If you suspect someone is driving a vehicle of any kind while impaired, please call 9-1-1. Police will make every effort to locate the involved vehicle and conduct an investigation, many times, these investigations result in charges and removing impaired drivers from Muskoka roads.

For more information on impaired driving, please visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/impaired-driving.

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Itinerary:
Humphrey Community Centre
• 7:30 a.m. — Pancake breakfast begins
• Meet the mushers & dog teams (ongoing)
• Mail Run merchandise sales (lobby)
• 9:30 a.m. — Opening ceremonies
• 9:45 a.m. — Teams begin the 17 km run through forests and over frozen lakes
(Humphrey to Rosseau)
Rosseau (event continues at 11:00 a.m.)
• Games & sledding
• Free dog sled rides
• BeaverTails® food truck
• Hot lunch at Rosseau Memorial Hall, with funds raised supporting the Rosseau
Memorial Hall Revival Project
• Bonfires & hot drinks
• 2:00 p.m. — Event ends

There is still time to purchase your sledvelopes to add to the mail bags! Visit
seguin.ca/mailrun for details on where and how to get yours.

The post Seguin Sled Dog Mail Run Tradition Continues February 21 appeared first on Muskoka411.

On February 6, 2026, at approximately 8:00 p.m. the West Parry Sound OPP were conducting a Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (R.I.D.E) check on Highway 141 in the Village of Rosseau. Officers stopped a vehicle and spoke with the driver; further investigation revealed the driver to have a suspended licence.

Cody Butler, 25 years-of-age of Rosseau was charged with:

• Driving while under suspension – two counts
• Novice driver – B.A.C above zero

The accused was released and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Parry Sound on March 17, 2026. The accused was also issued a 7-day Administrative Drivers Licence Suspension (ADLS), and the vehicle was impounded.

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Donations Made Nov. 17–Dec. 2 Will Be Matched

This Giving Tuesday, December 2, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (AVWS) is inviting the community to help wildlife in need — and see their generosity go twice as far.

Thanks to $25,000 in leadership gifts from local businesses and donors, every dollar contributed to AVWS’s Wildlife in Care Fund between November 17 and December 2 will be matched, helping the Sanctuary reach its $50,000 campaign goal.

“This past year has been truly transformative for Aspen Valley,” said Linda Glimps, Executive Director, AVWS. “With the dedication of our volunteers and the generosity of our supporters, we’ve expanded our care programs, welcomed new sanctuary residents, and achieved a new standard for wildlife care in Canada.”

“This Giving Tuesday, we celebrate the incredible support our community has shown and continues to show,” added Glimps. “Every gift helps save lives and ensures that animals in need find the safety and compassion they deserve.”

In 2025, AVWS became the first wildlife rehabilitation facility in Canada accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS) — an international mark of excellence in animal care, governance, and welfare.

The Sanctuary also provided temporary refuge to ten African lions rescued from a roadside zoo in Quebec, who have since been safely relocated to accredited sanctuaries in the United States. Closer to home, AVWS welcomed new sanctuary residents — including a moose, a silver fox, and a snapping turtle — to its sanctuary program, giving them lifelong care and comfort.

“From providing permanent homes to 31 sanctuary residents to rehabilitating more than a thousand wild animals each year, Aspen Valley is a lifeline for wildlife that have nowhere else to turn,” said Alison Papas, Director of Advancement and Communications. “With every public donation matched dollar-for-dollar up to $25,000, now is the perfect time to double your impact for wildlife.”

Leadership gifts have been generously provided by Cavalcade Muskoka Imaging; Cottage Country Septic and Plumbing; From the Ground Up Construction; Greenleaf Excavation; HillTop Interiors; Huntsville Animal Hospital; Lake of Bays Brewing Co.; Mueller Custom Build; Muskoka BBQ and Outdoor Kitchen Centre; Nearly Famous; Red Canoe Gallery; Soapstones Natural Skincare; Weismiller Timber Mart; and anonymous donors.

Donations can be made online at aspenvalley.ca.

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Following a lifesaving lion rescue from a roadside zoo in Quebec, six lions
are leaving their temporary home where they have been cared for by Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Ontario, to go to their permanent sanctuary destination at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas, USA.

This critical rescue operation, which required the collaboration of Humane World for Animals Canada, formerly called Humane Society International/Canada, and multiple sanctuaries, along with significant resources, highlights the urgent need to reform Canada’s wildlife laws, including a federal ban on the captivity of non-domestic big cats, elephants and great apes for entertainment.

Humane World for Animals Canada facilitated the rescue of the lions, who were found at a closed roadside zoo confined in a small, barren, substandard shed with inadequate enrichment, veterinary care and nutrition and were exhibiting signs of severe stress.
This lion rescue follows the largest zoo animal seizure in Canadian history of more than 200 wild and exotic animals from a roadside zoo in St-Édouard-de-Maskinongé conducted by Humane World for Animals Canada and the Montreal SPCA in 2019.

Rebecca Aldworth, executive director of Humane World for Animals Canada said: “The story of these lions illustrates the urgent need for government action. In Canada, wild and exotic animals in captivity remain tragically under protected. The ongoing need for non-governmental organizations, including Humane World for Animals, to rescue the victims of roadside zoos highlights a glaring gap in federal policy. Without meaningful legislation, unethical facilities will continue to profit from animal suffering.

Canada now has a clear opportunity to bring federal animal welfare laws in line with public values—and to establish itself as a global leader in protecting captive wildlife.”
In recent months, the rescued lions were cared for at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary in Northern Ontario, where three state-of-the-art enclosures were built to temporarily house them. Weeks ago, three of the lions were transported to their final home at The Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota, USA.

Now the remaining lions will spend the rest of their lives at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. Tanya Smith, executive director of Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, said: “We at Turpentine Creek are pleased to welcome the lions from Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. They will be moved to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and enjoy a good life at true sanctuary. We are grateful to all who help during this noble endeavour. It’s been a hugely complex operation, but we made it together. The lions are safe.”

Linda Glimps, executive director of Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, said: “Having the opportunity to temporarily care for these lions was both deeply moving and heartbreaking. No wild animal should ever endure the conditions they came from. At Aspen Valley, we gave them safety and dignity for the first time in their lives. Their move to a permanent sanctuary marks a new beginning—and underscores the urgent need for stronger federal laws in Canada to ensure no animal suffers in captivity again.”

Tammy Thies, executive director of The Wildcat Sanctuary, said: “The lions rescued by The Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota are already living happily wild at heart in large free-roaming habitats, including lion cub Mango who was born during this rescue. This has been our 7th rescue trip to Canada, where we advocate for stricter regulations and more true sanctuaries so wild animals can be properly and humanely cared for there. We are proud to work alongside so many accredited sanctuaries and reputable organizations to get these lions to permanent sanctuary.”

In 2023, the former Liberal government made good on its mandate to better protect wildlife in captivity with the introduction of Bill S-15, An Act to amend the Criminal Code and the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, which would have banned new captivity of great apes and elephants in Canada for use in entertainment. Lawmakers also recommended including big cats (lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars and cheetahs) in an official Senate report. Unfortunately, the bill died on the order paper with the recent federal election. Humane World for Animals Canada is urging the federal government to introduce legislation to ban captivity of big cats, elephants and great apes at the earliest opportunity.

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On September 29, 2025 at 4:35p.m., the Huntsville O.P.P. received a call from a concerned citizen of a possible impaired driver on King William Street in the Town of Huntsville. Officers located the suspect vehicle and as a result of failing a Roadside Alcohol Screening Test, the driver was arrested. Subsequent to the arrest, the driver was found to be in possession of a controlled substance

As a result of the investigation, Mathew Williams, 40 years old of Rosseau Ontario, has been charged with:

·      Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80plus)

·      Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs

·      Possession of a Schedule I Substance

·      Driving motor vehicle with liquor readily available

The accused is set to appear in court October 28, 2025 at Ontario court of Justice in Bracebridge, Ontario,

On October 3, 2025 at 8:18p.m., the Huntsville OPP were dispatched to a report of a vehicle in the ditch on Muskoka Road 10. The investigation revealed the driver sustained no injuries but showed signs of impairment. The driver was arrest for impaired operation.

As a result of the investigation, Douglas Weir, 36 years old of Huntsville Ontario, has been charged with:

·      Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs

·      Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80plus)

The accused is set to appear in court October 28, 2025 at Ontario court of Justice in Bracebridge, Ontario,

Both drivers have had their vehicles impounded for 7 days and they received a 90 Administrative Driver’s license Suspension.

We all play a part in stopping impaired driving! If you know or suspect that a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs, call 9-1-1. In doing so, you may save a life. Whether you are impaired by alcohol or drugs, impaired is impaired and driving under the influence of either is a criminal offence.

If you plan on drinking or consuming drugs, plan to not drive. Instead, arrange for a designated driver, take a taxi or public transit, or come up with another plan that takes impaired driving out of the picture.

Learn more about the consequences and penalties of driving impaired at: Impaired driving | ontario.ca

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“This is the biggest single food donation Ontario Wildlife Rescue has ever received, and it is going to have a significant and direct impact,” says Sandy Donald, Director, at Ontario Wildlife Rescue. “As Ontario wildlife centres don’t receive any financial assistance from government and food is one of their biggest expenses, when they don’t have to purchase food, they can help more animals. We are extremely grateful to Pet Valu for providing such a sizeable donation.”

Dry dog food is a popular choice for injured and orphaned wild animals in rehabilitation centres as it contains balanced nutrition and the animals, many of which are scavengers, like the taste. Black bears in particular benefit from dog food as its helps satisfy their high caloric needs.

“Through our Companions for Change program, we support many Canadian animal organizations doing vital work in communities across Canada,” says Tanbir Grover, Chief Digital and Marketing Officer at Pet Valu. “Our support includes assisting homeless pets, funding and feeding dog guides and providing transformative sponsorships that help pet charities fund major capital projects. Ontario Wildlife Rescue provides critical care for wildlife across the province and we are very pleased we are able to provide them with some much needed assistance.”

Ontario wildlife centres were created to save the lives of wild animals in Ontario and return the animals to their natural habitats. Donald says if the public finds injured or orphaned wildlife they should contact a wildlife centre directly. Humane societies and animal control centres are not licensed for wildlife.

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As temperatures rise, wildlife activity increases and many species, including raccoons and squirrels seek warm, secluded spaces to nest and raise their young. Attics, chimneys, and other quiet undisturbed areas become prime spots for these animals.

Not only is this an issue for homeowners, it is also of deep concern for wildlife rehabilitation centres who are on the receiving end of the hundreds of baby animals who are orphaned every year when homeowners evict their moms from their premises. 

“If the orphaned animals are found quickly enough, they can be taken to a wildlife rehabilitation centre for care and eventual release.” said Janalene Kingshott, Director of Animal Welfare at Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. “However, wildlife rehabilitation centres throughout Ontario are reaching their maximum capacity as soon as May, and the calls keep coming for several months thereafter.” This means rehabbers need to make the heart-breaking decision to turn away hundreds of baby animals each year. 

This tragedy is not only devastating but entirely preventable. In response, eight leading Ontario-based wildlife centres, including Aspen Valley, have united in a powerful effort to raise awareness and educate homeowners on more responsible and effective ways to deal with wildlife on their property.

“All wildlife plays an important role within the ecosystem, added Kingshott.  “Together, we are encouraging the public to view wild animals with compassion and understanding —ensuring baby animals are not orphaned in the process.”

The Problem with Trapping and Relocation

While the majority of individuals can grasp the barbaric nature of a kill trap, many people remain under the wrongful impression that live traps are a humane option. This is simply not the case. Live-trapped animals experience significant stress, often injuring themselves in attempts to escape the trap. They are also vulnerable to extreme temperatures and dehydration while waiting to be transported to another location. Some never make it. 

If released, these animals face even more challenges. Often ripped away from their young, they are left in an unfamiliar environment struggling to find food and shelter. They may also encounter territorial disputes with other wildlife, adding more stress to an already traumatic experience.

To minimize the risks to survival and limit the potential for disease transmission, Ontario’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act prohibits the relocation of animals more than one kilometre from their capture site. While this is intended to protect animals, ecosystems and humans, it is not foolproof. In fact, many species have incredibly strong homing instincts and will likely return to their original territory, including to their young. As a result, legal relocation is frequently ineffective.

A More Humane Approach

With these challenges in mind, it’s important for homeowners to take a more humane and thoughtful approach to managing wild animals on their property.

Following are best practices supported by wildlife centres across the province. 

1. The Gift of Time

If you are aware that the wildlife in your home has babies, the most humane approach is to allow her time to care for them until they are old enough to follow her out of the den on their own (typically around 8-10 weeks old). This prevents orphaning the babies and gives them the best chance at survival. Important Note: Before sealing any entry points ensure all babies have left. One way to determine this is to place a crumpled paper towel at the entrance to track movement. If the paper towel is disturbed, it likely means that an animal is still inside. 

2. Discourage Occupancy

To encourage wild animals to leave on their own, experts recommend making the den area less than ideal for a nursing mom by incorporating various elements in or near the den, such as:

• Leaving a talk radio station playing (no music).
• Using a non-flammable light source in or near the den area.
• Introducing strong smells, like apple cider vinegar on rags placed in a plastic bag with holes.

Using all three methods together, with patience, will likely encourage the mother to move her babies to a new den. Since the majority of species have multiple den sites nearby, the transition can occur smoothly for both human and animal families.

If you’d like guidance on this process, contact Aspen Valley’s animal care line at 705-644-4122.  You can also visit www.aspenvalley.ca for additional information on living in harmony with wildlife. 

3. Seek Professional Help if Necessary

If the situation becomes overwhelming, seek a reputable wildlife control company with expertise in wildlife biology and behaviour, especially during mating and breeding seasons. 

Their service should include:

• A thorough inspection and free estimate.
• Identifying entry points and locating the mother and her babies.
• Using humane techniques, like one-way doors to allow the mother to leave on her own.
• Gently removing the babies and placing them in a heated reunion box, where they can stay warm until the mother returns and takes her babies one by one to another safe den site.
• After the removal, and reuniting the animal family, the company should secure all entry points to prevent future stays and repair any damage caused by the animal.

We do not recommend companies that offer to “live trap” and “relocate” the animal.

4. Wildlife Proof Your Home

To reduce the risk of future wild guests, homeowners should take proactive steps to wildlife-proof their homes. Basic steps would include:

• Removing food sources, such as securing trash bags and storing them in secure bins.
• Sealing entry points, including the installation of chimney and vent covers.

The Wildlife Centres Involved in this Initiative

The eight organizations involved in this effort include:

• Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (Rosseau, Ontario)
• Hollys Haven Wildlife Rescue (Dunrobin, Ontario)
• Procyon Wildlife (Beeton, Ontario)
• Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre (Napanee, Ontario) 
• Shades of Hope Wildlife Refuge (Pefferlaw, Ontario)
• Speaking of Wildlife (Orillia and Area, Ontario)
• Turtle Pond Wildlife Centre (Val Caron, Ontario)
• Woodlands Wildlife Sanctuary (Minden, Ontario)

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The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries (GFAS), the only globally recognized organization providing standards for identifying legitimate animal sanctuaries, awarded Accredited status to Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary (AVWS) as of January 27, 2025.

Accreditation means that AVWS meets the criteria of a true animal sanctuary and is providing humane and responsible care of the animals. To be awarded Accreditation, an organization must meet GFAS’s rigorous and peer-reviewed animal care standards which are confirmed by a site visit and they must also adhere to a demanding set of ethical and operational principles. Accreditation also provides a clear and trusted means for the public, donors and grantors to recognize AVWS as an exceptional organization.

“We are thrilled to announce the Accreditation of Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, a highly ethical and skilled organization that rehabilitates and releases a host of Canadian species. For those animals deemed unable to be returned to the wild, Aspen Valley provides a peaceful permanent home in expansive natural habitats,” said Kristin Leppert, GFAS Program Director-Wildlife. “AVWS is the first GFAS certified wildlife rehabilitation center in Canada and we are grateful for their commitment to the protection and preservation of wildlife in need of a second chance.” 

“We are deeply honored to receive this prestigious accreditation, which affirms our commitment to providing the highest standards of care for the animals.” said Linda Glimps, Executive Director, Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. “This recognition from GFAS not only acknowledges the hard work and dedication of our team, it reinforces our commitment to putting wildlife first. It also signals to the public, our donors and partners that we are dedicated to achieving meaningful, long-term impact in animal welfare.”

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