The City of Brampton is addressing a recent surge in food being left out for wildlife to ensure community safety. This activity is most prevalent in the northwest areas of the city, particularly around Wanless Drive and Creditview Road. Brampton Animal Services officers have discovered food such as rice, cat food, chicken wings, and noodles left in residential areas for coyotes on two separate occasions. In response, Brampton Animal Services has increased patrols to enforce by-laws prohibiting the provision of food or attractants to wildlife, aiming to prevent conflicts between wildlife and residents or pets.
Feeding Wildlife in Brampton is Prohibited
Feeding wild animals can create dangerous situations for both the animals and residents. Leaving food in residential areas, along park trails, improper garbage disposal, and spilled bird seeds from feeders are all prohibited. Residents must secure garbage in bins with closed lids and clean up any spilled bird seeds.
The City of Brampton strictly enforces by-laws against feeding wildlife, including squirrels, geese, ducks, pigeons, foxes, and coyotes. Violating these by-laws can result in a $350 fine. In the first six months of the year, Animal Services officers issued 25 penalty notices for feeding wildlife, amounting to $8,750 in fines, with 20 penalties issued in the past three months.
Feeding wildlife has been linked to almost every instance of negative interactions between residents and wildlife. Animals that become dependent on humans for food may lose their natural fear and become overly familiar, leading to conflicts. Furthermore, associating humans with food can make animals assertive or aggressive. Additional concerns include:
- Animals may get sick from eating inappropriate food
- The spread of disease due to unnatural congregation of animals
- Animals may start to demand food from people
Brampton Animal Services’ Efforts to Maintain Community Safety
Since April 2024, Brampton’s Wildlife Response team has focused on reducing interactions between wildlife and residents by proactively conducting aversion conditioning on coyotes and foxes. This technique helps remind these animals to avoid areas populated by people.
Over the past three months, the Wildlife Response team conducted 168 patrols at 61 locations in the city with frequent wildlife sightings and performed 21 instances of aversion conditioning, using various techniques to reinforce a fear of people in foxes and coyotes.
Contacting Brampton Animal Services
For any wildlife-related inquiries, Brampton Animal Services is available to educate, inform, rescue, and respond. They can be reached at 905.458.5800.