The City of Kamloops is adopting a new Strategy to try to limit the damage done by wildlife in urban areas.

The City’s Environmental Services Manager, Glen Farrow, says on top of bears, they’ve identified 5 other animals in their recently completed Urban Wildlife Strategy which pose a growing problem for the city in terms of damage to city property, as well as human to animal conflicts.

“Geese, marmots, beavers, deer and voles,” noted Farrow.  “Those are often the species that are causing problems for us in our sports fields.”

The Strategy lays out a number of scenarios to deal with the various animals, including fencing, chemicals, noise and vegetation management.

Farrow says their Strategy also includes more dramatic options.

“Once we’ve exhausted all the management side of it, we do look to the controls, which on that side, you look at the potential of trapping, removal, baiting,” said Farrow.

Farrow says the new Strategy also includes avenues punish those who feed wild animals.

“In the future we are looking to have a specific urban wildlife bylaw, which would be ramped up and beefed up to educate, enforce and fine.”

The new strategy also includes plans for more signage, as well as education campaigns through the City’s website, as well as social media channels.