TORONTO STAR ARTICLE OF JULY 29, 2004 Fur flies over tiny squirrel Mississauga man imports U.S. critter Federal agency says animal is illegal MIKE FUNSTON STAFF REPORTER A pox on those federal bureaucrats who are driving him squirrelly, Steve Patterson says. The Mississauga man's newly adopted American baby has been branded an illegal alien and ordered deported, even though Patterson followed all the apparent legal channels in bringing tiny 10-week-old Sabrina into the country. He and Sabrina have formed a strong bond since he declared her at Canada Customs on June 26, and there's no way Patterson is going to give up his little ball of fluff - a northern flying squirrel from Wisconsin. Least of all, he's not going to surrender Sabrina to Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials, fearing they will have her destroyed. "I'll go to jail if I have to," Patterson said yesterday at his Mississauga townhouse, as the bug-eyed critter poked her head out from his vest pocket. About an hour later, two officials from the federal agency, backed up by two Peel police officers, appeared at the house, but by then Patterson had gone out, and they came away empty-handed. Patterson, 51, began studying flying squirrels 10 years ago as a hobby. He began doing his own research and field work and has become a self-styled expert. Because he does presentations for various organizations, and wanted a live squirrel to use as an example. However, it's against the law to take one from the wild in Canada, or to breed them as pets, so Patterson obtained permits from both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Ontario's natural resources ministry to legally import a northern flying squirrel. He picked up Sabrina in Indiana and at Canada Customs, his permits were inspected and the squirrel was allowed through. Ten days later he received a letter from the food inspection agency telling him that his squirrel was imported illegally. Why? In 2003, prairie dogs sold as pets by an Indiana supplier became infected with monkey pox from an imported Gambian rat. As a result, the United States banned the importation of African rodents; Ottawa did the same, but also squirrels. Dr. Susan Wray of the Canadian food inspection agency said the department is merely trying its best to prevent the disease from spreading into Canada, and no exceptions can be made. Agency spokesperson Bruce D'Andrea said the maximum penalty for violating the order is $50,000 and/or up to six months in jail.