Wildlife/wild animals are all around us. While many of them we appreciate (or perhaps underappreciate by not taking notice of them in our day to day lives), they can sometimes become a nuisance or create a fear that may not be warranted.
The Town of Stratford encourages residents to help ensure that all wildlife in our community can remain wild. While intentions may be good, wild animals should not be fed intentionally or unintentionally. Foxes, raccoons and other wild animals do not need our support with their diets. While they may look cute to have around, they can quickly cause problems for you and your neighbours. Feeding any wild animal causes them to become reliant on the food source, reduces their natural instincts and ability to find/hunt for food and can create food aggression when they are used to be able to get food from humans. This can also happen through in-direct methods such as leaving bowls of water outside or even feeding birds and squirrels which may then attract their natural hunters for an easy meal. Ensuring the wildlife around us remain with a healthy fear of and caution around humans is the best situation for all.
When animals become a nuisance, it is usually because there is something around your property, or a neighbouring one, that is attracting them, typically food, water and/or shelter. Restricting their access to these will help ensure they do not become a regular visitor to your property.
The Town of Stratford does not provide services to remove nuisance animals. Residents looking for these services do so on their own by contacting a local animal/pest control service. Nuisance animals may include but not be limited to: raccoons, skunks, rats, foxes, and squirrels.
The Town often has inquiries from residents with concerns about sightings of coyotes. Coyotes are common across PEI and in most instances are not something that should cause you fear or panic. Following a few common tips and being prepared for an encounter is your best bet. Here are some tips if you do come across a coyote:– Don’t run: this may instinctively trigger their natural instinct– Back away slowly: maintaining sight with the coyote as long as possible– Act large: make noise, clap your hands, wave your arms, throw something towards the coyoteIf a coyote attacks, fight back. Carrying a walking stick with you will provide you wish a tool to use against an aggressive animal. Coyotes are usually timid, though curious, of humans and not aggressive towards. Following the Town’s bylaw which requires all dogs to be on leash at all times unless on the owners personal property will also help ensure that a coyote is not forced into an instinctive confrontation or instinctive prey situation. Maintaining coyotes fear of humans is the best thing we can all collectively do for our community.
Additional Resources
People and Wildlife (Province of PEI): https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/environment-energy-and-climate-action/people-and-wildlifeCoyote Myths and Facts (PEI Untamed): https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/coyote-myths-facts
