Investigation underway
Officials looking into deaths of young birds at Charlottetown Home Depot store
Home Depot of Canada Inc. and P.E.I. conservation officers are investigating the alleged death of young birds from the Charlottetown Home Depot in June. Savannah Ford, an employee at Home Depot in Charlottetown, first posted on social media that she was told by a co-worker that a pest control company came in and destroyed three nests with live hatchlings in them in the store’s garden centre. “I was working in the garden centre and a co-worker came up to me telling me about how (the pest control company) had come in to the garden centre a week earlier and they had crushed these hatchlings to death and left them in the nest for the parent birds to come back and see that they were dead,’’ Ford told The Guardian in an interview. “That was supposed to scare them away from the area and make them think that it was unsafe. I didn’t see anything myself, but I believe what I heard.’’ Ford said she spoke to the store manager who told her he didn’t believe that the pest control company had killed the birds. The manager said usually if there’s a nest with hatchlings in it, the pest control company will actually advise employees to leave the nest alone until the hatchlings are old enough to fly and then move them. “How credible that is I don’t really know,’’ Ford said. “That’s what they’ve told me. Managers (at the Charlottetown Home Depot) have been really helpful and really responsive (about the matter).’’ The Guardian left a message with the pest control company identified on social media as the one connected to this matter but the call wasn’t returned. The Guardian also attempted to speak to the manager of the Charlottetown Home Depot but was referred to head office. Alyssa Haw, public relations and communications officer with Home Depot of Canada Inc., said they are taking the matter seriously. “We were disturbed to learn about the possibility of these events and are actively investigating,’’ Haw told The Guardian in an email. “We appreciate the community’s concern as we also take this very seriously.’’ Wade MacKinnon, chief conservation officer with the P.E.I. Department of Justice and Public Safety, said his office has received three complaints about the death of young birds at Home Depot. “We are investigating the possible violation of the Migratory Bird Conventions Act,’’ MacKinnon said. “At this point and time, we’re trying to determine species. We are aware young birds were removed from the location.’’ MacKinnon said not all birds are protected. “Starlings (for example) are not protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act because they are not a migratory bird. They are an invasive species that were introduced to North America many years ago.’’ MacKinnon is asking the public for help. “There was more than one occasion. We are looking for public assistance on this matter on possible pictures that may be available from the public . . . anything (taken) in the garden centre there so we can try and identify what species were there.’’ Anyone with information is asked to call 902-368-4884. MacKinnon said people can also pass along information along anonymously online at www. princeedwardisland.ca/reportpoaching.