Wildlife Calendar: Your monthly guide to coexisting with wild animals

Many of us have a love and respect for wildlife as well as the companion animals in our lives. Being aware of seasonal wildlife milestones ahead of time means you can prevent encounters between your pets and wildlife that can be dangerous. It also means you can prepare to avoid unwanted wild guests on your property and know how to coexist better with wildlife.

Add these reminders to your calendar at the beginning of the year so you can keep your companion animals, yourself and wild animals safe all year!

Milestones may change depending on where you live in the province, make sure to keep an eye out for local warnings and information.

January: Coyote breeding season

The beginning of the year marks the beginning of coyote breeding season as pairs begin to court and prepare to have pups. You may notice more coyote sightings and hear more vocalizations. As coyote breeding season progresses through the spring and summer, it’s important to keep companion animals leashed. Many encounters with coyotes are caused by off-leash dogs running towards dens that coyotes will defend to protect their young. Keep companion animals leashed and indoors to minimize encounters with coyotes.

Learn more about urban wildlife: Coyotes.

February: Adult raccoons fighting for territory

Ahead of breeding season for raccoons, many adult raccoons may fight to establish their territory. This means they may be more defensive if they encounter threats or become spooked by companion animals. Prevent encounters by keeping dogs leashed on walks, keeping cats indoors and checking yards before letting dogs outside.

Learn how to humanely haze wildlife and remove attractants to prevent raccoons from denning in your yard.

Learn more about urban wildlife: Raccoons.

March: Bears leaving hibernation

March signals the season when bears are leaving hibernation and will be particularly hungry! In search of food, they may come in close proximity to humans, especially if there are attractants near your home. Clean up attractants around your home while bears are still hibernating such as compost, unsecured garbage, and bird seed to avoid attracting them into your community when they wake up. If you live in an area with known bear activity, make sure to always leash dogs on walks to prevent surprise encounters and give bears lots of space.

Learn about urban wildlife: Bears.

April: Crows divebombing

Springtime to early summer means crows are nesting and they are very good at protecting their babies! Crows may divebomb threats to protect their young, which can include you and your companion animals. To minimize divebombing incidents, take a different route if there is a known nest site, keep walking quickly by the nest to remove yourself as fast as possible, keep dogs leashed and cats indoors so they do not provoke crow parents or harm the babies. If changing your route is not possible, use an umbrella when walking by to create a visual barrier.

Learn more about crows divebombing.

May: Baby season!

Spring means baby season! Many species of birds and mammals are having babies, possibly even in your backyard. To protect wild babies from harm, do a check for bird nests in trees or bushes, or shallow depressions in grass where baby rabbits might be hidden from sight. Keep cats indoors, leashed when outdoors, or use a catio to prevent predation on wild babies and block off areas or keep dogs leashed if wild babies are known to be present.

Thinking about doing some spring yard cleaning? Remember to watch for wild babies. Be extra mindful and take your time to minimize the risk of destroying a nest or causing injury. Keep an eye out for wild babies while you are out in nature, such as seal pups on the beach, and remember to keep your distance from them!

Learn how to stay wildlife-wise during spring cleaning.

June: Squirrel nesting

Hear squirrels in your attic? Eastern grey squirrels typically have one or two litters per year, usually in early spring and summer. Mother squirrels occasionally build their nests in chimneys or attics for warmth and protection. Newborn squirrels are born blind and without fur and are entirely dependent on their mother. To avoid separating babies from their moms and putting the lives of the young ones at risk, contact a humane wildlife control company that will safely remove squirrels from your building using animal-friendly methods.

Learn what you need to know about grey squirrels.

July: Cats and bats don’t mix

Warm weather and long days may mean outdoor cats can pose additional risks to bats. Bats are important for the ecosystem and their biology and roosting habits may make them more likely to encounter cats, such as in attics or in yards. Keep cats indoors, particularly at dusk and overnight when bats are active to protect bats and keep cats safe from potential disease transmission. If you are dealing with bats in human living spaces, learn about what to do and humane bat removal.

Get more information on why if you want to help bats, you should start with cats!

Learn what to do if you find a bat.

August: Nesting pigeons

Depending on where you live in B.C. pigeons may be breeding year-round, which means it’s always the perfect time to think about coexistence! To prevent pigeons from nesting in problematic areas, remove attractants, use humane exclusion methods, and make sure to never feed wildlife. Read about pigeon control methods and find a humane wildlife control company to help you if needed.

September: Fall bird migration

Every year birds make long migration journeys in the spring and fall. Many make stops along the way to rest and refuel, often in large fields or beaches. If you are walking dogs in these areas, make sure they are leashed and never chase migrating birds. Fleeing from threats uses a lot of precious energy and may be the difference between life and death for migrating species. You help prevent unnecessary encounters by having a good emergency recall for your dog. Here are tips for training an emergency recall.

Remember, pets and wildlife don’t mix. Learn how to keep them safe!

October: Rodents moving indoors

In the fall as temperatures begin to cool, mice and rats seek shelter and food sources making your home an attractive place to live. To prevent unwanted wild rats and mice from moving into your home, take the necessary steps to rodent-proof by removing attractants, cleaning debris, and maintaining your property to close off all entry points. Rodent-proofing your home requires regular maintenance, make sure to set a reminder each year!

Learn how to rodent-proof your home in 4 simple steps.

November: Deer rutting season

Mid-October signals the beginning of deer rutting season that can last until December. Bucks will show more aggression to other males and can be observed rubbing their antlers, pushing each other, and scraping the ground with their hooves. Keep companion animals leashed, indoors, and away from deer during rutting season to minimize the risk of a dangerous encounter. If you live in an area frequented by deer, make sure to check yards before letting dogs outside.

Learn about the annual mating or ‘rutting’ season for deer.

December: Winter recreational activities

Excited to head into the mountains or forest with your dog for winter activities? Consider minimizing your impact on the wild animals that live there while enjoying the outdoors. Keep dogs leashed, stay on designated trails, minimize noise, clean up all garbage and give wildlife a lot of distance while you are visiting their habitat.

Winter can be harsh for wild animals that are trying to survive and using precious energy to escape from humans or companion animals can take a big toll.

Learn how winter activities can affect wildlife.

While this is not an exhaustive list of wildlife seasonal events, it is a great place to start! Learn more about your wild neighbours and coexisting with wildlife by checking out more resources and seeing what information is provided in your local community. By setting seasonal reminders of wildlife activity and events taking place in your area, you can take meaningful action to keep wild animals, your companion animals and yourself safe.

You can have an even bigger impact by spreading the word to friends and family!

What’s New