Dealing with Wildlife

The Town of Arnprior is home to many animal species that flourish in a human or urban environment. This includes unwanted wildlife or species such as squirrels, mice and rats that can damage homes or properties, and which may in rare cases transmit diseases.

Remember that these animals have the same basic needs as we do: food, water, and shelter. Many of our daily activities can create the conditions that invite these animals into our homes and on our properties. To decrease the likelihood of attracting unwanted animals to your home or property, follow these simple tips:

Eliminate Food and Water Sources

Maintain or remove bird feeders

Putting out feeders is a popular way to attract birds to your yard. However, if the feeder is easily accessible or if birdseed falls and remains on the ground, then other unwanted animals will take advantage of the food source. To reduce this risk, use deterrent methods such as attic baffles, tidy up fallen seed daily, or consider eliminating feeders all together.

Bring pet bowls inside

Food and water bowls that are intended for your pets are another common attraction for unwanted animals. This can place your pet at greater risk of injury or disease, either from fighting or from sharing their bowl with sick stray or wild animals. Bring pet bowls inside promptly after each use.

Secure garbage and compost

Maintain compost bins to prevent animals from entering and do not put meat, fish or sweet food, including fruit, in your outdoor composter. Make secure both indoor and outdoor garbage in animal-proof containers with tight fitting lids. When possible, bring garbage cans and bags to the curb as close to pick up time as possible to reduce access for animals and frequently wash garbage cans and recycling containers and lids with vinegar or a strong-smelling disinfectant.

Eliminate Hiding and Living Spaces

Maintain landscape

Unwanted animals often hide or shelter in dense vegetation. If planting near a building foundation, avoid dense or tall ground cover, and keep shrubs and bushes well-trimmed. Maintain clear sight lines in yards. Fence vegetable gardens, pick up windfall fruit or nuts, and clean up gardens before winter.

Minimize clutter

Clutter provides unwanted animals with places to hide, sleep, nest and reproduce. Remove piles of newspapers, bottles and cans, paper bags, cardboard, and other trash from around the home, garage, and shed. Wood piles also attract animals. Place wood piles on stands measuring 30 cm (12 inches) off the ground and away from the home when possible.

Protect Buildings

Repair cracks

Animals like squirrels, mice and rats can chew holes into buildings and can squeeze through cracks and holes as small as 1.25 cm (1/2 inch). To keep them out of buildings, seal all holes and cracks in foundations, walls, floors, underneath doors and around windows.

Seal doorways and vents

Use metal weather stripping under exterior doors, close window gaps with metal flashing, and cover dryer, fresh air, and attic vents with fine metal screening (especially on lower floors).

Close inactive burrows

An inactive burrow will often have leaves, cobwebs, or other debris around the entrance. Close burrows so vermin cannot get back in by filling with soil and tamping down with a shovel, or by stepping on them.

Encountering Wildlife in Town

If you have found a wild animal that appears sick, injured, or orphaned, it may or may not need your help. Here is a list of what to do and who to call depending on the type of wild animal you are encountering.

Bear

If you encounter a bear in Town, do not approach the animal and from a safe distance, make loud noises and shout to scare away the bear. If the bear is an immediate threat to public safety, contact the Ontario Police at (613) 623-3131. Non-emergency situations contact the Ministry of Natural Resources Bear Reporting Line at 1-866-514-2327. Learn more information here.

Coyotes and Foxes

Never feed coyotes. Our best defence is not to habituate them. We need to keep them wild and wary of people. This is the best way to protect our pets and ourselves. The few documented cases of coyote-inflicted wounds on humans occurred as a result of humans feeding a coyote.
Keep pet food and water bowls indoors. Pet food will attract coyotes to your yard.
Keep trash cans covered.
Pick ripened fruit, and clean all rotted fallen fruit off the ground.
Do not allow a large amount of wild bird seed to remain on your lawn. Bird seed not only attracts birds, but rabbits, squirrels, and rodents, which are prey for coyotes.
Keep pets under strict control. Coyotes are most active between the hours of dusk and dawn. Therefore, leash all dogs and accompany them for walks. Keep pets indoors at night or enclosed in kennels.
Owls, hawks, eagles, fox, including coyotes can prey on smaller pets such as cats and dogs. Accompanying your pets outdoors after dusk, especially in backyards (unfenced and fenced) and using a leash, minimizes such encounters.
Cats may become prey for coyotes. Pet owners should protect pets and not let them roam. Our pets are at risk of many environmental dangers when they are not under our control. Coyotes may prey on small domestic animals as food and to eliminate a threat to their territory or pups. Domestic dogs can be considered competition for food items at locations where humans are feeding coyotes.
- Keep cats indoors. Letting cats roam can actually draw coyotes into the area.
Keep chickens, rabbits and other small animals in covered enclosures, constructed with heavy mesh wire. Coyotes, raccoons and weasels can break through chicken coop wire.
Neuter pets. Although a rare occurrence, coyotes may mate with domesticated dogs.
Do not approach coyotes. Avoid coyote dens, and do not interfere with pups, even if it appears the parents have abandoned them. Coyotes will do their best to avoid human contact, but may attack humans when provoked, sick or injured.
Teach children about wildlife and how to safely respond to coyotes (or dogs) nearby.

For more information about Coyotes visit Coyote Watch Canada.

Skunks, Raccoons & Other Smalls

Do not approach animal. Contact a pest control company.

Domestic Animal (cat or dog)

For stray domestic animals, such as dogs or cats, call By-law Enforcement at 613-809-7048.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if I have unwanted wildlife, mice, or rats on my property or in my home?

There are many ways to tell if unwanted animals are accessing your home or property. Some of the key signs include:

Live sightings
Droppings
Chewed or damaged items
Small holes or burrows in the ground outside of your home

What attracts wildlife, mice, and rats to our homes?

Animals have the same basic needs as we do: food, water, and shelter. Look around your house and yard and consider them from the animals' point of view. Are you providing food, water, and shelter? If so, what can you do to remove these attractants?

Eliminate Food and Water Resources
Eliminate Hiding and Living Spaces
Protect Buildings

How do we remove unwanted animals from our homes once they have entered?

Do it yourself options include traps, rodenticides, and repellents. But be aware that some options or devices, such as glue traps, may be illegal or may cause unnecessary suffering to animals. If you require professional services, you may wish to contact a licensed wildlife management or pest control company.

What if my neighbour is attracting unwanted wildlife, mice or rats that are also affecting my property?

The following by-laws contain regulations that require properties to be maintained to prevent pest infestations:

Both landlords and tenants have responsibilities to help prevent pest infestations. Visit the Town of Arnprior page for more information.

What do I do if I am bit or scratched by an animal?

All animal bites and scratches involving humans must be reported to the Renfrew County and District Health Unit immediately. More information can be found at the Renfrew County and District Health Unit website or by calling 613-732-3629.

More Information

Visit the following pages for more information: