Feeding wildlife in Vancouver parks could now cost you
Posted October 5, 2021 6:21 am.
Last Updated October 5, 2021 6:23 am.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – You could now be fined if you’re caught feeding wildlife in Vancouver.
The park board has officially amended its Parks Control & Ticket Offences Bylaw to include a possible fine of $500 for those “caught leaving or placing a food attractant that could attract wildlife or purposefully feeding wildlife in parks — including raccoons, rodents, coyotes & birds.”
In a tweet issued Monday, the board says the goal is to deter people from feeding wildlife both directly and inadvertently in the city’s parks.
This is to deter people from feeding wildlife both directly/inadvertently in parks, which interferes with normal foraging, hunting and population numbers. It is physically unhealthy for animals, and encourages food-conditioning that can lead to aggressive behaviour. 2/2
— Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation (@ParkBoard) October 5, 2021
Feeding these wild animals “interferes with normal foraging, hunting and population numbers,” the park board says, adding that doing so is “physically unhealthy for animals, and encourages food-conditioning that can lead to aggressive behaviour.”
This comes after more than 40 coyote attacks on people were reported at Stanley Park this year. Some of the people hurt in these attacks were children, some as young as three years old.
The string of attacks forced the park board to take extreme measures, closing a portion of the park for some time. It also led to a coyote cull in the park, during which several animals were found and put down.
Vancouver Park Board Rangers stand guard in front of an entrance to Stanley Park on Wednesday September 15th, 2021. (CityNews)
Animal rights groups had been among those pushing for the Vancouver Park Board to bring in stricter penalties for people caught feeding wildlife.
In September, two people accused of feeding coyotes in Stanley Park were arrested and their vehicle was seized.
“The direct seeding or placing of attractants out to lure dangerous wildlife such as coyotes is a dangerous activity and creates a public safety risk,” said BC Conservation Officer Service Insp. Drew Milne in a video at the time.
The BCCOS has said it will continue to “take enforcement” against anyone who is found feeding wildlife.
