Understanding Calgary's Wildlife Trapping in Homes: What You Need to Know

Calgary is an amazing city where the bustling city life and the untamed wilderness of the Rocky Mountains and Kananaskis Country exist in harmony. However, this meeting of two different worlds also means that encounters with wildlife are as common as the changing seasons.

From the cheeky squirrel in your backyard to the coyote on the commute, it’s best you know how to handle these casual meets like a champ. You want to stay safe without hurting the wildlife around you.

The City’s Approach to Wildlife Control

The City focuses on promoting coexistence (as it should) and educating the public on the importance of letting wildlife remain wild. Residents are strongly advised against feeding or approaching wild animals, as these interactions can alter natural behaviours and potentially lead to dangerous situations.

The City provides guidelines designed to minimize human-wildlife conflicts by securing food sources such as garbage, pet food, and compost, which might otherwise attract curious visitors. This can protect wildlife while also maintaining the safety and tranquillity of Calgary's neighbourhoods.

Animals Deemed Dangerous By the City

In Calgary, certain wildlife are labelled potentially dangerous because they pose an immediate threat to your safety. These include:

• Bears: Often found roaming in or near residential areas in search of food, bears can become aggressive if they feel threatened or if they’re with their cubs. Secure your garbage and avoid leaving food sources accessible.
• Moose: They’re generally less aggressive than bears, but can become confrontational if provoked or during the rutting season.
• Cougars: They occasionally venture into urban fringes. Though attacks on humans are rare, their presence can create a high-risk situation, especially for small children and pets.
• Coyotes: You’ll see them in both rural and urban settings. But coyotes generally avoid human contact but may exhibit aggressive behaviour during the pup-rearing season or if sick or injured. The encounters are more frequent during periods when natural food is scarce.

What to Do When You Encounter a Dangerous Animal

If you ever find yourself face-to-face with any of these animals or predators in a situation that feels threatening, here’s what to do:

• Immediate Danger? Call 911: Yes, if a bear is rummaging through your garage or a moose unexpectedly joins your backyard BBQ, it's an emergency. Calgary authorities emphasize that in such high-risk moments, the safety of residents is paramount, and you should contact emergency services immediately by dialling 911.
• For Less Immediate Concerns: Not every wildlife sighting is an emergency. If you spot these animals without a direct threat, or if they're lingering nearby, Alberta Fish & Wildlife is your go-to contact. During regular hours, dial 403-297-6423; after hours or on weekends, reach them at 1-800-642-3800. They can provide advice or assistance to safely handle the situation.
• Stay Informed on Safety Protocols: Understand behaviours that could provoke these animals. For example, never approach or feed them. Keeping a respectful distance minimizes risks and helps maintain peace. If you encounter a cougar, avoid direct eye contact and slowly back away to give them space.

Nuisance Wildlife in Calgary

Calgary is home to more than just the larger wildlife; it also hosts a variety of smaller, yet equally challenging, nuisance animals. Squirrels darting across your property, raccoons rummaging through your bins, and gophers turning your garden into a minefield are common sights in many neighbourhoods.

The list of common nuisance wildlife includes:

• Bats
• Crows
• Gophers
• Magpies
• Mice
• Moles
• Pigeons
• Bobcats
• Porcupines
• Rabbits
• Raccoons
• Seagulls
• Skunks
• Squirrels
• Wasps
• Coyotes

Each of these creatures, while a natural part of our urban ecosystem, can become problematic when left unchecked.

Squirrels and raccoons are particularly adept at finding their way into attics or garages, where they cause significant damage and potentially create fire hazards with their gnawing. Gophers can ruin lawns and gardens, digging extensive networks of tunnels that disrupt the root systems of plants and destabilize the ground.

Beyond the physical damage, there's also the health aspect to consider. Raccoons, for example, may carry rabies, and their droppings may host eggs of roundworms, which can pose serious health risks to you and your pets. Similarly, the presence of pigeon droppings can lead to diseases such as histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease caused by fungus growth in dried droppings.

Handling Nuisance Wildlife

Calgary promotes humane control methods for dealing with these smaller invaders. Local bylaws often discourage the use of lethal means. Instead, the focus is on exclusion techniques. So how do you do that? We like to focus on these proactive techniques:

• Seal entry points to prevent animals from entering buildings.
• Use fences to protect gardens.
• Employ live traps that allow for the safe relocation of animals. These traps need to be checked daily to make sure that if the animal is caught, we relocate them quickly and safely.
• Maintain cleanliness around the property by securing garbage and removing potential food sources, which helps deter animals from settling in.
• Our BuzzShield® Complete package. It creates a barrier around your yard and home for complete protection from annoying pests like mice, voles, rats, wasps, and hornets.

For persistent problems, contacting a professional wildlife control service like Buzz Boss—where we understand and adhere to local regulations—can provide a safe and effective solution.

Wave Goodbye to Wildlife Worries with Buzz Boss

Ready to reclaim your yard without ruffling the local wildlife’s feathers? Our humane wildlife trapping and removal services are the answer to your prayers!

At Buzz Boss, we blend expertise with empathy, ensuring every creature, big or small, is treated with empathy. Don’t let unwanted guests turn your backyard bash into a bust. Contact us today for a free estimate, and let us handle the beasts while you enjoy the beauty of your outdoor space.

Offering services across Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Regina, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Okanagan, and Kelowna – Buzz Boss is your go-to expert for humane wildlife trapping and removal services.