By Staff
October 5, 2015
BURLINGTON, ON
At its meeting on Sept. 28, Burlington City Council approved a new bylaw prohibiting the feeding of wild animals, including coyotes, in the city’s public parks. The bylaw will not however become effective for one year.
The bylaw prohibiting the feeding of wildlife in public parks goes into effect in one year.
“This new bylaw will help the city address public concerns over coyotes by trying to prevent conflicts before they occur,” said Scott Stewart, the city’s general manager of development and infrastructure. “Research and experience show that one of the most significant things everyone can do to reduce direct public interaction with coyotes is to avoid feeding them.”
Swans can be fed but only by those who are licensed.
The no feeding wildlife bylaw prohibits the feeding of any wildlife including waterfowl, such as ducks and geese, in public spaces. City Council approved an amendment to the bylaw to allow the Trumpeter Swan Coalition to continue its work with the trumpeter swans that live in LaSalle Park.
“Like all wildlife in Burlington, coyotes are just trying to survive, and they do that by finding food sources,” said Tracey Burrows, manager of bylaw enforcement and licensing. “The new bylaw will not come into effect for one year, during which time the city will be reaching out to residents to help inform them about how we can work together to eliminate and properly manage food sources around homes to ensure coyotes remain wary of humans.”
In addition to the no feeding wildlife bylaw, the city also offers an online service where residents can report coyote sightings. These sightings are monitored and tracked by city animal services staff to learn more about which areas of the city coyotes are located.
For more information about coyotes or to report a coyote sighting, please visit www.burlington.ca/coyote.
Unbelievable waste of taxpayer;s money !!!!!!! Go after the kids feed ing the ducks yet turn a blind eye to the massive developer bill board on Lakeshore that is an eyesore. Patrol the streets looking for a coyote ,yet develop all the natural habitat around here ,driving the wildlife into suburban areas .
Educate people…you must be kidding. This city has a problem with wild animals and we want to educate people to not feed them. We can’t even educate people to follow the exit signs at the GO above ground parking garage!! We can’t educate people not to take their dogs to the beach!! Everyone things that they are special and above all rules until someone gets hurt.