Rebuild Raptor Enclosure Structure – Wye Marsh National Wildlife Area – Public Comments Invited

September 4, 2024 – The authority must determine whether the proposed Rebuild Raptor Enclosure Structure, located in Wye Marsh National Wildlife Area is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

To help inform this determination, the authority is/ inviting comments from the public respecting that determination. All comments received will be considered public and may be posted online.

Written comments must be submitted by October 4, 2024 to:

John Viengkone

Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service

4905 Dufferin St., Toronto, ON M3H 5T4

416-884-5148

John.Viengkone@ec.gc.ca

 

The Proposed Project

Friends of Wye Marsh Inc. (FOWM) is proposing to undertake building renovations and enhancements for raptor enclosures at the Wye Marsh National Wildlife Area (WMNWA). The WMNWA is located in Midland, Ontario and is federal land managed by ECCC-CWS in partnership with FOWM. The building was erected by and is managed by FOWM and is located on an existing, maintained yard within the NWA.

The purpose of the project is to improve the raptor enclosures for the captive bird species on site which are maintained for educational purposes. The current building requires extensive repairs and restructuring of enclosure sizes to better suit species-specific needs. The new building will be within the same footprint as the previous, using the existing concrete pad. Removal of the old structure and new building construction will be completed using skid steer, mini excavator, other light machinery, and hand and power tools. Existing trails and roads will be used to transport machinery and materials safely on and off site.

The proposed work will occur from October to December 2024 when disturbance to birds and other wildlife will be minimal. Minor vibration and noise disturbance may occur during this project as a result of moving and transporting building debris and construction materials. Work duration will be minimized to decrease overall disturbance and will be completed by a contractor who can comply with permits, obligations, and requirements of the area.

Exposed soil and excavated material will be re-graded, stabilized and/or re-seeded as needed using suitable native plants, soils, seed mix and seed application to benefit wildlife including species at risk. Appropriate waste disposal containers and methods will be used to reduce risk of spills and contamination. This work will require a Canada Wildlife Act permit, and the Contractor will be required to assess the site for species at risk and stop work if encountered. The Contractor will also be required to do regular inspections and maintenance of vehicles and machinery to ensure they are free of fluid leaks, invasive species, and wildlife.