The City of Cranbrook is asking you to clean up around fruit trees and properly dispose of food waste to keep from attracting wildlife to your yard.
“Having wildlife in our community is a normal part of life in Cranbrook,” said city staff. “However, using some of these simple steps and taking advantage of the programs available through Wildsight, will help keep unwanted encounters to a minimum.”
City officials said there are two bylaws in place meant to discourage residents from deliberately using food sources to attract wild animals.
“Under the City’s Deer Feeding Prohibition bylaw, as an example, residents are not to directly or indirectly leave or place food, food waste or other edible materials on their property to deliberately feed deer,” said city officials.
However, farms, fruit and vegetable gardens and flower beds are not breaking the bylaw.
“The City’s Animal Control bylaw states that you must not feed or shelter any type of wildlife or leave pet food, food waste, seeds, nuts, or fruit fallen from bird feeds or trees on any property so that this material can be readily available to any wildlife,” said city officials.
If you need a hand managing any fruit trees on your property, Wildsight’s Apple Capture program will help.
“The program lends equipment to people to use their fruit to reduce attractants for local wildlife,” said city staff. “Wildsight also has a Tree Share Board, which connects people who may not be able to pick their own fruit with people who could use it and would do the picking.”
More: Wildsight’s Apple Capture program