Wildlife and You

Understanding how to behave around wildlife and how to wildlife-proof your property helps prevent conflicts from occurring and ensures a happy coexistence. It is our responsibility to educate ourselves, our children and neighbours about living with wild animals.

The majority of conflict situations involving wildlife are the responsibility of the property owner, set out by Provincial law. In some cases it's straight forward, in other cases, other agencies or levels of government may be required to intervene. For details, visit Ontario's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act website.

The town supports a living with wildlife approach and offers the following information to help reduce conflict situations.

Never feed wildlife

Feeding is one of the main reasons conflicts can arise between people and wildlife. Besides causing problems for people, it’s also not healthy for wildlife and can result in serious consequences, even death.

Problems for wildlife include:

Animals lose their natural fear of humans and pets, which may cause more conflict
Artificial food sources are not healthy for wildlife to consume and can cause serious illness
Feeding animals roadside can increase their risk of being hit by vehicles

Problems for people include:

Squirrels or birds can bring nuts to neighbouring yards which is dangerous for children with life-threatening allergies
Feeding wildlife may attract unwanted species to your property
Animals will learn to associate humans with food, which can become a problem to the community
Adapted animals may become aggressive
Overfeeding animals (such as Canada geese and pigeons) can cause excess waste materials which is both unhealthy and unsightly

In cases of problem feeding issues, the town's Property Standards By-law (2011-075) prohibits feeding that attracts pests or creates potentially unsafe conditions (e.g. rodents, coyotes). The Parks By-law (2013-013) restricts feeding of wildlife in public spaces. Both of these by-laws carry associated penalties that may be levied for ongoing situations.

Wildlife-proof your property

Although wild animals can become a nuisance, they don’t usually threaten human health or safety. The least traumatic and most inexpensive way of dealing with wild animals is to animal-proof your property before wildlife moves in. By vaccinating and securely confining pets, and teaching your children to respect wildlife and to leave wild animals alone, you can reduce any risk to human health and safety.

For referrals to a humane wildlife control company, contact the Oakville & Milton Humane Society.

Make your property unwelcoming to wild animals

Use motion-sensitive lighting to make your property less attractive to coyotes and other nocturnal wildlife
Securely attach tin or other light metal at a 45-degree angle on the balcony ledge. This prevents animals from climbing onto your balcony.
Deter birds from landing with spiky perch wires on ledges or preferred roosting areas.

Enclose your yard

Animals may fall into your pool unless your have raised it above the ground or fenced it in.
Cover your pool with solar blanket when you aren’t using it to avoid animals falling in or using it as a pond or drinking pool
Clean out and place a screen over the top of window wells to prevent animals from falling in and becoming trapped
Protect vegetable gardens with heavy-duty garden fences or place vegetable plants in a greenhouse
Fence your property or yard. While many wild animals can jump or climb fences, fences can serve as a deterrent, making access to your yard more difficult. Please refer to By-law 2002-034, for acceptable fence and privacy screen height and construction.

Seal the outside of your home, garage and shed

Properly cap chimneys to block birds and animals from getting inside and check the cap annually to make sure it is still securely in place
Repair the flashing – tin or other metal that builders use to weather-proof the chimney if it is loose, or animals have pried or chewed it
Repair and secure shingles
Repair or replace any loose or rotten soffits.
Inspect all siding, roof, foundation, and outside walls for leaks, damaged or rotten areas and make necessary repairs
Place screens on all exterior dryer, air, stove and bathroom vents so that animals can’t get inside.
Seal holes around doors, windows and roofs with steel wool or cement. To discourage digging and nesting, place gravel around the base of the building.
Fill any holes under stairs with clay or concrete
Repair holes in door and window screens
Avoid leaving your home, garage or shed doors open overnight or for extended periods

Minimize possible denning and nesting sites

Ensure gaps around and under decks and sheds are closed off with wire screening to discourage animals from denning or hiding there
Use wire mesh, plastic netting, pull down blinds or a commercial barrier to keep wildlife away from balconies
Keep your property free of junk, debris and garbage which may invite wild animals looking for food or a place to hide
Repair and seal light fixtures to prevent birds from nesting in and on them
Remove long grass, dead brush and wood piles. These conditions provide potential den sites for wild animals.
- If you must have a woodpile, keep it in an enclosed area, such as a garage or shed.
Clean out eavestroughs regularly to prevent debris from building up and discourage birds from nesting.
Fill in window boxes or place screens over them to discourage nesting

Remove food and water sources

Never feed or leave food out for wild animals
Remove fallen birdseed under birdfeeders and ripe/rotten fruit that has fallen to the ground under trees
Avoid feeding pets outside, and never leave pet food outside unattended
Keep your barbeque clean and free of grease to avoid inviting unwanted animals to your yard
Always keep garbage in sealed containers and store them in an enclosed area whenever possible
Place garbage containers at the curb only on the day of garbage pick-up
Ask your neighbourhood garden centre how you can safely eliminate grubs and other insects that some animals like to eat without hurting the grass, other plants and your pets

Wildlife-proof your businesses

Keep dumpsters closed as much as possible, especially during the evening
Keep all work areas clean of debris and garbage
Always close doors when you’re not using them
Screen off all vents and fans that lead into the building
Discourage anyone from feeding wild animals
If an animal invades a work area, open all accesses to the outdoors and allow it to escape

Keep children and pets safe

By vaccinating and securely confining pets and teaching your children to respect wildlife and to leave wild animals alone, you can reduce any risk to human health and safety.

The presence of a pet may deter wildlife; however, never let a pet chase or scare wildlife. Wild animals could seriously injure your pet
Don’t leave pets outdoors unless you’re watching them or allow them to roam free. Animals roaming free are always at risk of coming in contact with wild animals.
Don’t feed your pets outdoors. Its food may attract wildlife
Vaccinate your pet yearly against rabies and other diseases
Always keep your pets on a leash when out for a walk unless you are in a leash-free park. This will allow for better care and control of your animal if you see a coyote
If you live near green spaces, ravines, and other areas where coyotes live, keep a close eye on your pets
Keep cats indoors

Resources

The Toronto Wildlife Centre's manual, Answering The Call Of The Wild, is an excellent resource offering information on dealing with wildlife situations on your property and conflict prevention measures for most species of animals, birds and reptiles. Copies of this book are available at the Oakville Public Library or Town Hall.

The town's Wildlife Conflict Guidelines (pdf) provides detailed information on how to handle various wildlife conflict situations, who is responsible and preventive measures.