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More animals have perished, likely as a result of the runoff from a chemical spill caused by a six-alarm industrial fire at an Etobicoke facility last week.
Toronto Fire Services were called to Brenntag Canada, a chemical distribution company, at 35 Vulcan Street near Martin Grove Road and Belfield Road around 1:15 a.m. on Friday, August 11, following explosions at the building.
Given the nature of the chemicals stored at the site, concern shifted to potential health and environmental threats. Etobicoke resident Craig Strathy told CityNews he was at Royal Woodbine Golf Course hours after the fire broke out. He immediately noticed a change in the colour and consistency of Mimico Creek, which runs through the golf course.
Strathy witnessed Mallard ducks struggling to walk as they appeared covered in a thick substance, later confirmed by the Toronto Wildlife Centre as oil.
So far, the chemical spill has affected Mimico Creek and Humber Creek, and as a result, various mammals and birds have died in the days following the industrial fire. Toronto Wildlife Centre rescue teams were on the scene at the creek on Saturday to assist wildlife impacted by the presence of chemicals in the water, telling CityNews between 40 and 50 ducks may have been affected by the spill.
In an update on Monday, the wildlife centre said its team captured 49 ducks in Mimico Creek since Saturday.
On Wednesday, the Toronto Wildlife Centre confirmed a young beaver, initially thought to be a rare river otter, had perished due to runoff.
Strathy tells CityNews the beaver was found on Wednesday near the end of West Deane Valley Road, which is in the proximity of West Deane Park and Mimico Creek.
“[I found] a duck at Royal Woodbine Golf Course on Tuesday. What can have a chance of surviving in this?” Strathy said. “Heartbreaking that this is just a baby beaver.”
Nathalie Karvonen, Executive Director at the Toronto Wildlife Centre, said its Enforcement Branch of Environment and Climate Change Canada is collecting dead bodies and having them necropsied.
“We also had reports of the beaver this morning and are checking with Environment and Climate Change Canada,” Karvonen said. “While we certainly wouldn’t be surprised if this poor beaver died as a result of the toxins in the water, there is no way for anyone to know that until the proper testing is done.”
Nearby residents are being asked to report any sightings of birds or other animals affected by the substance that appears oiled to the Toronto Wildlife Centre.
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