Wildlife & Biodiversity

Oakville residents are fortunate to live in one of the most biodiverse areas in Ontario with over 900 different species of plants, 185 types of birds, 30 species of amphibians and reptiles, 29 mammals and 58 different kinds of fish. The town has a number of programs and services in place to protect and enhance these resources, including its Wildlife Management Strategy, an online coyote reporting system and a Biodiversity page.

Featured wildlife

• Coyotes Check out the NEW coyote mapping on Explore Oakville
• Canada geese

Reporting wildlife encounters

There are a number of resources for reporting incidents with wildlife:

An encounter with a coyote, observed feeding of coyotes by people or overflowing organic waste materials on public property: Report information to the town's online coyote reporting system.

For reptiles and amphibians (turtles, snakes, frogs) along the side of the road please report observations to Conservation Halton's online Road Ecology Survey.

To report dead wildlife beside or on a roadway visit the Oakville and Milton Humane Society website for details. You are also encouraged to report information to the Ontario Road Ecology Group who tracks this data in their efforts to improve road safety for wildlife.

For reporting dead wildlife on private property, generally, removal of animals is the responsibility of the property owner, however, if a dead bat is found please contact the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre at 1-866-673-4781.

For more information, please read the June 15, 2012 media release from Conservation Halton.

Invasive species

Species that have become established in areas outside their natural range are known as alien species. Generally, alien species do not pose a significant risk and many are even beneficial. However, when alien species are capable of causing significant harm to our environment, the economy or to society, they are referred to as invasive alien species. The town deals directly with the following invasive species:

• Emerald ash borer
• Garlic mustard
• Giant hogweed

To learn more about invasive species, you can visit the websites for Conservation Halton, Ontario Invading Species and the Ontario Invasive Plant Council

Get involved

• Learn more about the species in our area by joining a naturalists' club –– check out the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club or South Peel Naturalists’ Club
• Plant trees with Ground Breakers (with OakvilleGreen)

Educational resources

Canadian Wildlife Federation
Ministry of Natural Resources
OakvilleGreen
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Ducks Unlimited