Wildlife

Bears in Cochrane

There has been a recent increase in the number of reports about bears in residential neighbourhoods. When winter approaches, bears are looking for as much food as they can before hibernation. To help bears not associate humans with food, for our safety and theirs, please: 

• Put waste, recycling and organics carts out in the morning, not the night before.
• Keep compost indoors; outdoor compost attracts bears.
• Remove bird feeders when bears are active (Apr. 1-Nov. 30); clean up any spilled bird seed.
• Clean your barbecue; scrub after each use, and store in a garage or shed. 
• Consider removing fruit trees and berry bushes; pick the ripening fruit as early as possible, and store in secure, airtight containers.
• Never leave food out for wildlife.
• Let your neighbours know if you've seen a bear nearby; talk to them about being BearSmart at home. 

Coyotes in Cochrane 

Coyotes are a sign of a healthy ecosystem and help control the population of other wildlife such as rodents, but they should still be treated with care and caution. Always keep the following in mind: 

• Clean and maintain bird feeders and fruit-bearing trees and shrubs.
• Put your waste, recycling and organics bins out on the morning of collection (before 7 a.m.). 
• Clean up after pets; animal feces attracts coyotes.
• Keep cats indoors.
• Don't leave pets unattended in your yard.
• Keep dogs on-leash except in designated off-leash areas. 

For more information on living with wildlife, see Alberta’s website: 

Living With Wildlife