Tips and Information about Local Wildlife

Wildlife in the Area

• Bears

  The river valley is a wildlife corridor seeing occasional bear move through. It’s thought that the wildfires out west have displaced a number of wildlife that be related to our recent bear activity. It’s everyone’s responsibility reduce potential conflict with bears or other wildlife with people and pets. What you can do to deter wildlife from your yard:

  • Keep your garbage and green bins locked up when not out for curbside collection
  • Don’t leave pet food outside
  • Harvest remaining vegetables from gardens and rake up crab apples
  • Use pumpkins as a very temporary decoration on Halloween evening, or display them through your windows
  • Take notice of wildlife caution signage that may be placed in Parks or Pathway systems and consider alternate routes
  • Report sightings to Parks at 403-938-8958 and Report-A-Poacher at 1-800-642-3800. For emergencies call 9-1-1.

  If you encounter a bear

  • STOP! STAY CALM. Your calm behaviour can reassure the bear. Screams or sudden movements may trigger an attack.
  • NEVER RUN - running may cause the bear to pursue you.
  • Pick up small children and stay in a group.
  • Bears may approach or stand on their hind legs to get a better look at you or to pick up your scent. This is their way of identifying you and is not an aggressive response.
  • BE HUMAN. Speak to the bear calmly and firmly. This indicates that you are not a prey animal. Appear passive.

  If the bear appears defensive

  • A defensive bear may be feeding or protecting young or you may simply have surprised it.
  • A defensive bear will appear stressed or agitated and may make noise.
  • Try to appear non-threatening.
  • Talk in a calm voice.
  • Whenever the bear is not advancing, slowly move away without turning your back to the bear. 

  Source:  AlbertaParks.ca

   

• Cougars

  Typically in Okotoks, a few cougar sightings are reported each year. Cougar sightings should be taken seriously and reported to Parks at 403-938-8958 and Report-A-Poacher at 1-800-642-3800.  Click the button below for more information on what to do if you spot a cougar.

  More Info

• Coyotes

  While enjoying the many parks and natural areas in Okotoks, you may sight a coyote. Coyotes are common to this region and although their diets are mainly rodents and rabbits, they may attack pets.

  Coyote sightings do not need to be reported, however, close encounters or coyote aggression should be reported to Parks at 403-938-8958 and Report-A-Poacher at 1-800-642-3800.

• Deer

  The most common wildlife residents will encounter are deer. Although deer aren't typically considered dangerous, they may see people and dogs as a threat and can act aggressively to protect themselves or their fawns.

  What Can I Do if I Experience an Aggressive Deer?
  If you experience an aggressive deer incident, defined as “deer chasing, or kicking, at a person or pet resulting in damage or injury,” you should contact the Report-A-Poacher line immediately at 1-800-642-3800 and be able to report the location of the aggressive animal. The Report a Poacher line is monitored 24/7 and a wildlife officer will determine if further action is required.

  Fawning Season - It Is Normal For Fawns To Be Left Alone
  In order to keep her young safe, a doe will leave her fawn in a secluded area, often for as long as 12 hours, distracting predators away from her baby while she forages for food. Fawns' camouflage and their ability to remain still keep them safe from predators while their mother is away.

  If you notice a fawn on its own, please don't approach it. Concerns about the welfare of the animal can be relayed to Fish & Wildlife by calling 403-652-8330.

  Try These 5 Tips to Discourage & Prevent Deer from Hanging Out in Your Yard

  1. Spray them with your garden hose

  2. Remove attractants such as crab apples, Halloween pumpkins, bird seed, etc.

  3. Use scare tactics such as mobile yard ornaments or scarecrows

  4. Try chemical deterrents such as blood meal or Plant Skydd

  5. Plant unpalatable garden plant species (e.g. non-fruit bearing trees)

  Please Do Not Feed Deer
  Feeding wildlife, especially deer, has become more common and problematic recently in some areas in Alberta. Okotoks has a significant population of deer in our area and could be subject to future problems if residents or visitors begin feeding them. Problems linked to feeding wildlife arise when animals pursue people and occasionally threaten public safety. To report illegal feeding of deer on public property, contact Municipal Enforcement.

  Feeding deer could lead to:

  • Overcrowding and increased incidence of disease in animal populations can be linked to feeding. Ticks can be passed to humans in close contact with infected animals.
  • Butting or pawing of persons by over-anxious deer has occurred in other municipalities, resulting in human injury, particularly to small children.
  • High populations of deer may attract predators, like cougars, into populated areas.

  
  Please be a responsible resident and practice the following tips:

  DO NOT feed or approach any wild animal
  DO NOT leave pet food outside (may attract skunks & coyotes)
  DO NOT distribute bird feed in parks or natural areas
  
  DO slow down for wildlife
  DO use deer-resistant bird feeders

  Learn more about Okotoks' urban deer.

• Gophers

  More formally called Richardson's ground squirrel, gophers are a burrowing rodent commonly associated with agricultural lands. Parks controls gophers where holes pose hazards to sports field users and in or adjacent to other mowed turf areas.

  You may report gopher activity on public lands to Parks.

  To control gophers on your property, contact a private pest control company.

• Moles

  Formally referred to as northern pocket gophers, moles make mounds of soil across the landscape in spring and fall. Although considered beneficial in natural environments for decompaction and aerating of soil, some consider them a nuisance.

  To remove moles on private property, you can trap them yourself or hire a private pest control company. Parks responds to mole complaints on public lands on a case by case basis.

• Moose

  Moose are wild animals and need to be given space and privacy. Stay safe by keeping an appropriate distance from them or just avoid the area. Use caution when walking dogs and keep them on a leash. Dogs chasing wildlife may result in human/wildlife conflict and/or injured wildlife.

• Rats

  Although there have been no confirmed cases of the Norway rat in Okotoks to date, Parks receives many calls about sightings. Rats are often confused with muskrats. Rats have pink feet and pink tails, while muskrats have black feet and tails. Muskrats often wander far from water and are common in Okotoks.

  Contact Parks for an inspection of dead or detained animals only.

• Skunks & Foxes

  Skunks and foxes are common in Okotoks. Skunks are omnivores, eating both insects and plants. In an urban environment skunks can be quite opportunistic, getting into pet food, garbage, and compost. Foxes mainly consume small rodents, birds, eggs and rabbits. To deter skunks and foxes on your property, ensure holes under decks and outbuildings are blocked.

  To control skunks or foxes on private property, contact a pest control company. 

• Ticks

  Ticks are on wild animals, such as deer. Pets and people can pick up ticks by walking through grassy or wooded areas or contact with wild animals.  For more information, please visit the Alberta Health Services website:

  Ticks

   

• Voles

  Voles are small mouse-sized rodents with a shorter tail. Voles are outdoor year-round residents in Okotoks. They do not become a pest indoors, but rather will chew away at lawns and trees, especially in winter. Most lawn damage is cosmetic and quickly repairs itself once grass is actively growing, by about mid May. You may reduce damage from voles in the fall by adding tree guards, mowing grass short, and setting out bait stations. In the spring catch voles with mouse traps baited with peanut butter or apple slices. 

Relocating Urban Wildlife

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