Update on Meaningful Change Must Happen to the City of Ottawa's Wildlife Strategy and Practices

The current ineffectual City of Ottawa wildlife strategy has been in place since 2013. Will Ottawa finally get humane and progressive wildlife policies this year? We believe that is up to each and every one of us. We need to keep the pressure up. We need to make it clear that trapping and killing wildlife within city limits is no longer acceptable. That we expect more humane methods to be applied, such as modern flow device technology in storm water ponds instead of trapping and killing approximately 150 beavers per year, the current practice. Such as a large wild mammal emergency response protocol that clearly outlines roles and responsibilities, resulting in quick response to the site and ensuring the most humane approach possible is used in each and every encounter,
instead of being inhumanely shot to death as seen with our juvenile bear this spring. Such as using evidence based solutions for co-existing with coyotes, something that is proving successful in other Canadian cities, instead of inhumane trapping that often results in great suffering for the animal, such as the situation in Riverside Park South this past spring. Implementing engineering design guidelines that produce more eco-corridors to ensure connectivity and lessen road mortality. Developing respectful, ongoing and transparent working relationships with local community organizations and wildlife support groups - we believe this alone would result in a substantial improvement in best practices when it comes to wildlife. Last but not least, we expect the city to adopt widespread preventative wildlife habit and behavior education of the general public (us!) with consistent reminders of what to expect at certain times of year and best practices if one encounters wildlife.

We will be closing this petition on September 1st , and passing along all data to each City Councillor and the Mayor prior to the council meeting regarding this issue. Leadership from City Councillors is critical to ensure these changes happen. They must stand up to city bureaucracy, hold them accountable and ensure change is not just put on paper, but followed through in a transparent and timely manner. Help us to keep the pressure up:

1. Encourage other Ottawa residents to sign this petition before it closes on September 1st
2. The City of Ottawa has recently launched a second Wildlife Strategy Review survey to give residents a chance to be heard (the tone of the first survey led to the conclusion that wildlife is seen as a “nuisance”, so a second one has recently been released). If you are a resident of Ottawa you can follow the link to fill it out here: https://engage.ottawa.ca/wildlife-strategy-review
3. Write your City Councillor, and remind them of the changes you want to see in the next City of Ottawa's Wildlife Strategy and Practices, so it is fresh in their minds. The meeting will be sometime in September. https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/mayor-and-city-councillors
4.  Join the Facebook group –‘We Must Do Better- National Capital Region’. They are the best source of information if you want to stay current with what is happening here in Ottawa.