August 24, 1998

To:Board of Health

From:Dr. Sheela V. Basrur, Medical Officer of Health

Subject:Urban Wildlife Conflict Resolution Strategy

Purpose:

This report outlines the impact on Toronto of the presence of wild animals, and how the City should address resulting concerns.

Source of Funds:

The funds to deliver the current programs provided by Toronto Animal Services were approved by Council at its meeting of April 29, 1998.

Recommendation:

It is recommended that Toronto Animal Services continue to provide the current level of service with respect to wild animal problems pending a review and resolution of related amalgamation issues.

Background:

At its July 6, 1998 special meeting on Animal Services, the Board of Health requested that the Medical Officer of Health report on a number of animal-related issues, either as part of a consolidated report and draft Animal Services by-law, or as separate reports. The issue of "how significant the impact of wild animals is on the community, and how this should be addressed" will be dealt with exclusively in this report.

Comments:

Wildlife contributes significantly to the quality of the urban environment. It represents an integral part of the ecosystems within our parks and green belt areas, providing residents with the opportunity to participate in activities such as photography and direct observation. Over the years, due to urban development, wildlife has been displaced from what was once its natural habitat. As a result "urban wildlife" has adapted to living closer to people in order to survive. This combined with the "naturalization" of much of the parkland increases the potential for human/wildlife contact and conflict.

Toronto Animal Services receives a variety of calls relating to wildlife. These calls include requests for information, conflict resolution and health and safety concerns. Animal Services also receives calls regarding sick, injured and dead wildlife. Over the past six years each of the six former municipalities has adopted similar strategies to deal with human/wildlife concerns. These strategies include providing citizens with information which will assist them in implementing actions that will result in long term solutions to the existing problem. These solutions usually incorporate ways to resolve conflicts with wildlife without trapping and relocating the animals. Examples of the types of conflicts experienced include: wildlife establishing den sites in and around attics, garages, sheds and decks; foraging for food in gardens, lawns, composts and garbage; and, wildlife sightings or contact with people and pets.

In December 1993, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) released a copy of an action plan called "Looking Ahead : A Wildlife Strategy for Ontario." Within this strategy, human/wildlife conflict in urban Ontario was considered. It was determined that in order to resolve, minimize or eliminate human/wildlife conflict, "Urban Animal Control" should emphasize effective public education and extension programs to focus on preventative measures and promote ways in which people and wildlife can better co-exist.

The MNR also determined that, although live trapping and removing wildlife may appear to be temporarily successful in solving complaints, it does not provide a long term solution to the problem. This is due to the following observations and findings:

a)That if whatever attracted the original "nuisance" animal still exists (usually a den site or food source), then another animal will take advantage of that same attractant;

b)That the removal of an animal in an area will result in greater litter size the following year from the remaining wildlife. The population density naturally increases to meet the level the environment can sustain;

c)That Toronto and the surrounding municipalities have a high ratio of green belt and parkland areas, and that naturalization of these areas has increased, therefore supporting a healthy population of wildlife; and

d)That new animals moving into the voided areas may bring with them disease that does not exist in the current population of wildlife. This is of even greater concern where a rabies vaccination programme has been implemented, as with the MNR rabies vaccination program for the red fox population throughout Toronto and surrounding municipalities.

The MNR has also gathered data that indicate that there are approximately 8 to 16 raccoons and 5 to 7 skunks within each square kilometre of the Greater Toronto Area. This ratio is approximately double the number of raccoons and skunks normally found in rural and wilderness areas. Therefore, removal of a few of these animals will not resolve most problems, as other animals will simply take their place.

Strategy For Dealing With Wildlife:

The former six municipalities of Toronto have all adopted strategies that essentially work as follows:

Animal Services staff respond to wildlife concerns within the City. Control on private property is restricted to situations in which the wild animal is determined to be a nuisance, and where the resident has complied with the recommendations provided by staff. A "nuisance" wild animal is one that presents a threat or annoyance to residents of a property and is undomesticated or not considered a household pest, such as rats or mice. Wildlife includes hybrid or cross bred wild/domestic animals and does not include feral domestic animals.

In the public parks, ravines and recreation areas, the indigenous wildlife is an important and desirable component of the area, and control is not effected unless an animal is in distress and/or presents a public health or safety threat.

Animal Services staff provide the following:

1)Information and education regarding wildlife, to foster an understanding that will enable an amicable co-existence with wildlife;

2)Assistance to residents in their attempt to prevent or eliminate conflicts with wildlife, in ways that protect public health and safety, and maximize humaneness and safety for wildlife;

3)Pick up, and where appropriate, promote the rehabilitation of wildlife that are injured or in distress;

4)Humane trapping of wildlife, only where trapping is deemed the appropriate means to resolve conflicts with humans;

5)Transport wildlife in an appropriate manner, to an appropriate wildlife release site, an authorized wildlife assessment or rehabilitation facility, or to the area Animal Centre.

The implementation of this strategy has proven an effective tool for staff to educate and assist the public in reducing conflicts in a long term and cost effective manner.

The experience in the former municipalities, which have implemented this strategy, has been that the numbers of healthy wild animals picked up has significantly been reduced, as has the number of wild animals euthanised or relocated. The response by the public to the initiation of this strategy in each of the former communities was mixed. Most people were happy with the long- term solutions and preferred to do what was best for the animals. A fewer number still wanted immediate results, even though they were advised trapping and removal would be a short term solution. Eventually, the public adjusted to the change in approach and for the most part have had success in resolving wildlife conflicts through implementation of the wildlife strategy in their community.

Conclusion:

The approach and strategy in dealing with wildlife in the former six municipalities has been effective in providing long term solutions to the public when experiencing conflict with wildlife. The provision of general information on the various types of wildlife has also helped alleviate fears and misunderstandings held by the public. There are some differences in the delivery of wildlife strategies and information provided to the public by each of the centres. Toronto implementation of a unified wildlife strategy should be held in abeyance for two reasons. Firstly, Animal Services will be undergoing a consultant's review in the near future and the outcome of that review may have an impact upon the delivery of the service. Secondly, the six separate services are in the process of amalgamation, and until this occurs, provision of an effective, equalized delivery of the service will not be achievable. Therefore, it is recommended that we continue to provide the current level of service pending the review and resolution of related amalgamation issues.

Contact Name:

Eletta Purdy, Etobicoke Animal Centre

Tel:394-8110

Fax:394-8682

Dr. Sheela V. Basrur

Medical Officer of Health