Peel Regional Police are investigating after animal traps were found in a Mississauga park.
Police said 11 illegal spring traps were placed in a green space by Hewick Meadows Park near Mississauga Road and Eglinton Avenue and were found between March 27 and 30.
Officials describe the traps as spring snares, which are made out of thin wire and are difficult to see.
“The wire snares are illegal to set and pose a danger to both children and adults as well as domestic animals and wildlife,” Peel police said in a release.
The executive director of Toronto Wildlife Centre, Nathalie Karvonen, told Global News that two coyotes have been seriously injured within the past month because of the animal traps.
One coyote in Fort Erie had a trap around its neck that cut into its trachea, which required a complicated surgery to save the animal’s life.
Another coyote had its foot stuck in the trap in Mississauga, and Karvonen said she is uncertain if the coyote will be able to regain use of its leg.
Both coyotes still remain in the care of the Toronto Wildlife Centre.
“I have not heard of that many wire traps in the time I’ve been working in this field, and we’ve been open for 26 years now,” said Karvonen.
“Something pretty bad is going on out there.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Peel Regional Police at 905-453-2121 ext. 1133.