Wildlife Safety in Ward 2

The weather is getting warmer, which means that many families are heading outside to enjoy Calgary’s many walking paths and green spaces. This also means that the chances of encountering wildlife will increase. As you may have seen, wild animals such as coyotes, deer, and bobcats are common in Calgary’s neighbourhoods, especially if you live in Ward 2. We’ve put together a handy list of reminders for how you can keep yourself and your pets safe as you spend more time outdoors.

It might be tempting to feed wildlife (such as rabbits), but doing so can make them dependent on humans for food and act more aggressively towards you and your pets. Please remember to keep food scraps out-of-reach or safely locked away in their proper bins.

• For example, if you have a high coyote population in your neighborhood, it’s a good idea to put old meat or dairy products in your green bin, and avoid putting them in a backyard composter.

At certain times of the year, wildlife can become more active and aggressive. For this reason, it’s especially important to give them space. Here are some further tips:

• Keep your pets on-leash, and don’t let cats roam outside unattended.
  
• Keep your yard clear of debris and be sure to trim vegetation to reduce hiding places for smaller animals like mice, squirrels, or skunks. 
• It’s also a good idea to clean up food around barbeque grills after each use to reduce odours that attract wildlife.
• Moose in particular can be dangerous if they are startled, so make sure to be aware of your surroundings and keep to the established paths.

If we all follow these steps, we’ll be keeping our neighbourhoods safe and clean as we enjoy the warmer weather. Calgary is full of diverse species, and we can still enjoy observing wildlife from a safe distance while taking steps to protect their natural habitat. 

To learn more on bobcats in the community, please click here. 

To learn more on rabbits and coyotes in Ward 2, please click on the links below: