Wildlife Management
While we live in an urban environment, wildlife, big and small, lives all around us. The City of Coquitlam offers pest management advice, nuisance mosquito control, urban wildlife education and a Bear Aware Program to educate residents on how to live safely with these animals.
Coquitlam’s Urban Wildlife Coordinator is available to assist if you:
• See a pest problem on public land
• Want information about pest management techniques
• Suspect you have a rodent problem
• Have concerns about wildlife in your yard or on public property
• Have concerns about wildlife attractants in your yard or neighbourhood
Urban Wildlife
Live Smart with Urban Wildlife in Coquitlam
Coquitlam is home to bears and many other urban wildlife. As Coquitlam’s population and urban areas grow, habitat and natural food sources available for wildlife diminish. This is why we find these animals in our neighbourhoods, seeking out garbage for food and our backyards for shelter. This makes it an ideal location to live, not only for us, but for many types of wildlife including:
• Coyotes
• Deer
• Raccoons
• Skunks
• Squirrels and
• Bears
• Cougars
These animals are part of our environment, but can become pests and unwanted visitors if we attract them to public and private property. It is important that we avoid inviting wildlife to our properties by removing attractants and limiting access to areas that wildlife may use as a den such as under or in sheds or wood piles.
Garbage is not healthy for bears and wildlife. When bears learn that garbage means food, they return to it again and again. To reduce bears and urban wildlife coming into the neighbourhood, remove attractants from your backyard that could provide food and shelter for these animals.
If you Encounter Threatening Wildlife
- Do not run.
- Make yourself look big.
- Be loud and aggressive.
Report any sightings, and if you encounter threatening wildlife that is aggressive, breaking into buildings or causing property damage, please call the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.
How to Wildlife-proof Your Home and Property
- Keep garbage out of reach
- Use Gren Cans correctly
- Don't plant fruit-bearing trees and shrubs
remove bird feeders - Compost responsibly
- Remove attractants from your backyard
Resources:
Remember:
• Do not feed wildlife, feeding wildlife, including bears is illegal in BC (Dangerous Wildlife Protection Act section 88.1)
• Residents can be fined for not managing their waste correctly; it is your responsibility to not attract wildlife. (Solid Waste Management Bylaw Amendment No. 2512, 1992),
• Coquitlam residents can purchase a bear resistant bin from the City to use as their Green Can or garbage.
If you are concerned about wildlife in your yard or on public property or want more information about becoming Bear Aware, please contact the Urban Wildlife Coordinator 604-927-3554.
Pest Management
The City of Coquitlam’s pest management program provides residents with the information they need to deal with pest issues related to:
• Rodents
• Wasps
• Birds/crows
• Insects
• Nuisance mosquitoes
Pest Management Tips
In 2012 the majority (78%) of the resident inquiries received by the Urban Wildlife Coordinator were related to rodents (rats and mice). The presence of rodents can be determined by droppings, tracks (foot prints), urine and chewing. Here are some tips for minimizing rodent visitors on your property:
• Keep your garbage out of reach and in a secure container and location
• Use your Green Can correctly, separate food scraps and keep them in a bear resistant bin
• Remove bird feeders, use a bird bath to attract birds instead
• Remove attractants from your yard, feed pets indoors & keep BBQs clean
• Compost responsibly, install a rodent proof compost bin, cover & turn compost regularly
• Exclude rodents from your home and buildings by being sure there are no openings or entrances
• Remove branches that hang too close to your roof.
If rodents or other pests persist, please call a private pest control company. Local pest control services can be found on Yellowpages.ca or other internet search engines.
In 2012 the City developed the Vector Control Bylaw No. 4284, 2012, for the protection against the spread of contagious, infection, or communicable diseases by animals. This Bylaw will help to protect the health of the public by requiring owners and occupiers of property in the City to prevent their property from becoming infested by vectors that may spread disease.
Nuisance Mosquito Control & West Nile Virus
The City has partnered with Metro Vancouver Parks and four other municipalities to contract Culex Environmental to provide nuisance mosquito control services. Culex Environmental is responsible for the following:
• Monitoring river levels, temperature, rainfall and snow pack levels
• Monitoring numbers of larval mosquitoes in water bodies
• Applying naturally occurring bacterial larvicide
• Monitoring numbers of adult mosquitoes to gauge effectiveness of larviciding
• Public education and outreach
If you are concerned about nuisance mosquitoes or would like to request a site visit to investigate standing water for potential mosquito breeding please call the Mosquito Hotline at 604-872-1912 or email info@culex.ca.
For up-to-date information on West Nile Virus, please refer to Fraser Health Toll-free Information and Reporting
Engineering & Public Works Customer Service
Engineering Emergency Services for Water, Sewer and Roads
24 Hours a Day, 7 Days a Week
Phone: 604-927-3500
Please Note - The Engineering and Public Works email address is only monitored during regular business hours (Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.).
If this matter is urgent, please call our Engineering and Public Works Customer Service line at 604-927-3500 (24 Hours / 7 Days a Week).
Engineering Customer Service Email: engineeringandpublicworks@coquitlam.ca
3000 Guildford Way, Coquitlam, BC, V3B 7N2