Sharing A Village: People & Wildlife Together
Any wild animal is best enjoyed from a distance, and left to do their thing.
Do not feed wildlife. They become dependent on it, and learn habits that can harm them or cause conflicts with people. Keep your distance when you spot wildlife. Giving them room reduces the chance of conflict. Always keep your pets leashed and under control (also required under the Village of Buena Vista Animal Control Bylaw No. 01/24) Pick up after your pet. Cleaning up waste helps keep your pet and wildlife healthy. It also reduces wildlife being attracted to the area by the food source ( also required under the Village of Buena Vista Animal Control Bylaw No. 01/24 ) . Secure your property: remove any food, dispose of garbage and compost in bins.
Urban Deer
Do not feed deer. They have ample food supply in the wild, and supplementing this natural food supply not only attracts and holds deer in the area but can trigger an unsustainable population increase. Fence off your fruit trees and gardens (see the Village of Buena Vista Zoning Bylaw for fencing regulations). Keep shrubs and other plants trimmed. Deer require cover to safely travel through communities and bed down. Use motion-activated lights and sprinklers to startle deer and dissuade them from coming into your yard. They are seeking a safe haven, and avoid places that have proven to be stressful in the past. If you have fruit trees, trim lower branches to discourage deer from feeding and remove all windfalls from your yard promptly. In winter, cover shrubs and trees with burlap or plastic sheeting. This creates a barrier that prevents deer from browsing in your yard. Plant less palatable species.
Make loud noises (e.g. banging pans/aluminum cans; open/close an umbrella; waving & clapping hands while shouting. Remove attractants such as crab apples, Halloween pumpkins, bird seed, etc. Use scare tactics such as mobile yard ornaments or scarecrows. Plant deer-resistant plant species.
Overcrowding and increased incidence of disease in animal populations can be linked to feeding. Butting or pawing of persons by over-anxious deer can occur, resulting in human injury, particularly to small children and pets High populations of deer may attract predators, like cougars, into populated areas.
Never feed deer. Feeding deer can cause them to associate people with food; they can act aggressively when hungry. Reliance on unnatural food sources poses challenges for deer in the winter when food sources are less abundant, increasing aggression. Deter deer from your yard. Plant unpalatable species, remove bird feeders, use tree guards, rake up crab apples (or remove fruit trees altogether). If deer sleep in your yard, place objects randomly like patio furniture to disrupt sleeping areas. Don’t let your dog chase deer out of your yard as this may encourage aggression. Give deer their space. Deer may act aggressively if threatened. When walking, cycling, etc., change your course to give deer as much room as possible. Keep dogs on a leash. Unleashed dogs often chase/scare deer causing them to run into traffic or encourage aggression. If a deer approaches a dog on leash, back away and seek an alternate route. Don’t attach your dog leash to yourself. Behaviours to Watch For. If deer feel threatened, their ears will be back and they will stomp their feet and sometimes snort.
Urban Coyotes
Enjoy all wildlife from a distance. Let them do their thing. Never feed coyotes or leave pet food (including bird seed) outside or at ground level. Be mindful of where your children are and don’t leave them unattended. Carry a loud whistle or other noise-making device with you in areas that have coyotes. Throw all garbage in park containers and pick up after your pet.
Keeping pets away from coyotes keeps pet safe. In on-leash parks, always leash your dogs. In off-leash areas, if coyotes are present or in the area, keep your dogs leashed. Shorter leashes keep dogs safer. Keep your cats indoors- it keeps cats safe from coyotes and songbirds safe from cats. Pick up dog poop - it attracts coyotes ( also required under the Village of Buena Vista Animal Control Bylaw )
Close/block areas under porches, decks or steps. Clean up compost, garbage and other food sources. Pick up fallen fruit and seed around bird feeders. Don't store food outside. At night, keep pets secured in your yard, or inside your home. Install motion activated lights.