BRAMPTON – City of Brampton is addressing a recent influx in food being made available to wildlife to keep the community safe. The increased activity is most notable in the northwest part of the city, in the areas of Wanless Drive and Creditview Road. On two occasions, Brampton Animal Services officers have found food such as rice, cat food, chicken wings and noodles left in a residential area for coyotes. As a result, Brampton Animal Services has increased patrols in the area to enforce by-laws that prohibit the leaving of food or attractants for wildlife to prevent conflicts between wildlife and people or pets.
Feeding wildlife in Brampton is prohibited
Feeding wild animals can lead to dangerous situations for both animals and residents. Food left out in residential areas and along park trails, improper garbage disposal and spilled bird seeds from bird feeders are prohibited. Residents are required to keep garbage secured in garbage bins with the lids closed and to pick up any spilled bird seeds.
The City of Brampton strictly enforces by-laws prohibiting feeding wildlife. This includes squirrels, geese, ducks, pigeons, foxes and coyotes. Feeding wildlife purposely or inadvertently can result in a fine of $350. Over the first six months of the year, Animal Services officers have issued 25 penalty notices for feeding wildlife, resulting in $8,750 in fines, with 20 of those penalties being issued in the past three months.
Feeding of wildlife has been observed in almost every instance of negative interactions between residents and wildlife. When animals become dependent on humans for food, they may lose their natural fear and become familiar with humans, which can lead to conflicts.
Additionally, associating humans with food can cause animals to become assertive or even aggressive. Further, feeding wildlife can lead to the following concerns:
- animals may get sick because they are not eating the right food
- the spread of disease, as animals unnaturally gather at the same spot
- animals may start to demand food from people