Keeping Wildlife Wild
Albertans are fortunate to share the land with a diverse array of wildlife. However, as wild animals find their natural environments decreasing year after year, interactions with human beings increases, often resulting in disastrous results for the animals, and sometimes for the humans as well. Wild animals and humans are increasingly competing for space and resources and human-wildlife conflicts are on the rise. Many native animals have also adapted to living among humans in urban neighborhoods. Many species play essential roles in the ecosystem that benefit everyone, so it is imperative to find effective solutions to prevent and respond to human-wildlife conflicts and interactions. This means that humans need to adjust how they act or do certain things in their homes, in their neighborhoods, and when enjoying the great outdoors.
Education, prevention and compassion are the keys to coexisting with any form of wildlife.
Conflicts with wildlife can be prevented through awareness and by following some of these helpful tips:
Education, prevention and compassion are the keys to coexisting with any form of wildlife.
Conflicts with wildlife can be prevented through awareness and by following some of these helpful tips:
GENERAL TIPS FOR COEXISTING WITH PREDATORS FOR EVERYONE
At Your Home:
While Camping, Hiking, Outdoors:
In Your Community:
At Your Home:
- Do not feed wolves and other wildlife
- Since garbage can attract wolves and other wildlife, keep garbage in a secure location
- Do not leave any food outside, including scraps, pet food, or livestock feed. When possible, feed animals inside.
- Keep dogs under supervision. Wolves can be highly territorial toward other canids
- Properly dispose of dog and other pet waste
- Do not leave pets outside unattended, especially at night
- Take steps to avoid rodent infestations as they can attract predators
- Clear brush and wood piles to discourage wildlife from taking up residence
- Avoid ornamental fruit trees or pick up fruit immediately if any has fallen - fruit may attract predators to your yard
- Avoid having bird feeders in your yard as these may also be predator attractants
While Camping, Hiking, Outdoors:
- Never feed, approach, or allow wolves to come near, or they may lose their fear of people.
- Do not bury garbage. If you pack it in – pack it out!
- Keep a clean and orderly camp. Cook and store food away from sleeping areas. Suspend food, toiletries, garbage and other loose objects on a rope between trees, or in secured kayak hatches, out of reach of wildlife. Wolves have been reported removing personal and other non-food items from campsites.
- Stay away from fresh wolf kills or other carcasses you may come across, as well as avoid dens, and rendezvous sites.
- Wash dishes in a container and dispose of grey water in an outhouse or toilet, not on the ground or in the forest, or even in your fire pits.
- Near the coast use areas below high tide mark, away from camp, in an area of high tidal exchange for toilets – do not use the upland areas, wolves will feed on human excrement.
- Keep dogs on leash to avoid encounters. If you encounter a wolf, make the dog heel next to you immediately. Standing between the dog and the wolf often ends the encounter, but never try to break up a fight between a wolf and a dog. Properly dispose of dog waste.
- Read a news articles from 2016 regarding wolves becoming conditioned to trash left at campsites: Bow Valley Wolf Pack
In Your Community:
- Remind your neighbors to never feed wolves and other wildlife.
- Promote the reduction of potential wildlife food sources in and around your community.
- Notify authorities about wolves or other wildlife that seem comfortable around people, seek human food, or frequent human areas. Early intervention can keep a problem from getting worse.
