Wildlife Encounters and Interactions

Two bears sitting amongst trees and ferns

Port Moody is surrounded by forested mountains, which means encounters with wildlife are common. Residents in Port Moody need to manage these interactions in order to stay safe and avoid damage to home and property. The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and WildSafeBC offer guidelines to help ensure the safety of people and wildlife.

Report an encounter

Please report all wildlife human interactions where public safety may be at risk to the BC Conservation Officer Service at 1.877.952.7277. Reports provide records for tracking wildlife encounters, which is essential in education and enforcement efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict. Email Environment for more information on how to minimize adverse human-wildlife interactions.

Encountering distressed or injured wildlife

Marine species

If you find an injured or distressed seal or other marine mammal, please report it to Marine Mammal Rescue at 604.258.SEAL (7325). Call 1.800.465.4336 for large whales and other marine mammal incidents. Do not touch or attempt to feed the animal. Share the animal’s exact location including any landmarks or GPS location, a description of the animal's condition, and any photos or other details you gather.

All other species

If you encounter an injured or distressed animal (that is not a marine animal), please contact the Environment division at 604.469.4574 or email us at environment@portmoody.ca.

For additional details regarding who to contact regarding environmental inquiries (including those related to wildlife), please see the City’s environmental contact list.

Other contacts that may be able to provide information regarding what to do if you encounter injured or distressed wildlife include:

Encountering dead wildlife

If you see dead wildlife:

Do not touch or move dead wildlife with your bare hands. Use disposable gloves and, if necessary, move wildlife with a tool or garbage bag.
Do not dispose of dead wildlife in your green/compost bin.

It is illegal to have any wildlife in British Columbia without a permit. Please see the provincial government's website on what to do if you find sick, injured, or dead wildlife or contact the Environment division at 604.469.4574 or environment@portmoody.ca.

Safety tips for coexisting with wildlife

Trip planning

Know before you go. Familiarize yourself with wildlife common to the area before you head outdoors.
Equip yourself with safety tools such as a cellphone or noisemaker when going into natural areas.
Talk to children and educate them on how to respond to wildlife encounters.

Out in nature

Stay on official trails. Going off-trail into bushy areas increases your risk of wildlife encounters, and unknowingly entering wildlife dens or defended territories.
Practice ethical photography. Taking photos of wildlife at close range can increase the risk of conflict, stress wildlife, and give them a longer chance to smell you and lose their fear. More information on photography ethics is available through WildSafeBC.
Children should not be left unsupervised in areas of high wildlife presence. Immediately pick up small children if coyotes, bears, or cougars are seen nearby.
Never feed wildlife (it is illegal. Secure your garbage and green waste. Pack in what you pack out – do not leave food wrappers or scraps outdoors.
Be alert and make noise when out in nature; many animals will avoid the sound of human voices.

At home

Store your green waste and garbage in a wildlife resistant enclosure where possible and ensure that the clips are securely fastened when carts are not out for collection.
Check out the bear-resistant design guidelines for solid waste, organics and recycling enclosures, and containers.

If you encounter wildlife

Stay calm.
Raise your arms to make yourself look big.
Speak with an even tone.
Bring pets and children close.
Do not run or turn your back. Slowly walk backwards to vacate the area and give wildlife room to pass through.

Report all wildlife conflicts to the B.C. Conservation Officer service at 1.877.952.7277. Read below for tips on specific species.

Trip planning

If you have, or suspect you have, come into physical contact with a bat, call your physician or public health office.
If your pet has come into physical contact with a bat, call your veterinarian.

Black bears

Black bears are a common sight in Port Moody. If you encounter a bear stay calm, speak slowly and calmly to alert it of your presence, slowly back away, and provide ample space so that it can move along.
For more information see Bear Essentials and the BC Human – Wildlife Conflict Guidelines for Bears.

Cougars

In late winter/early spring cougar sightings increase in Port Moody as their preferred prey, deer, spend more time in urban areas. Here are some tips to stay safe and avoid negative encounters with cougars.

Be alert and make noise when walking in forested settings.
If you encounter a cougar, stay calm and back away slowly - never turn away or run.
Make yourself look as large as possible using jackets or backpacks.
If the cougar appears to be stalking you, yell and throw objects such as rocks/sticks.
Keep dogs on a leash and under control at all times.
Keep house cats indoors at all times.
Remove bird feeders or shrubs that may attract the preferred prey of cougars (deer, raccoons, etc.) to your yard.

Report any encounters or sightings in an urban area to the RAPP (Report All Poachers and Polluters) line at 1.877.952.7277

For more information about how to respond to a cougar sighting, follow the BC Human – Wildlife Conflict guidelines for cougars.

Coyotes

Coyotes are well adapted to living in urban areas. They are naturally timid but may act aggressively if they become too comfortable with people. With a few simple actions, you can help reduce conflict between people, pets and coyotes:

Be big, brave, and loud. Scaring coyotes helps them retain a natural fear of people.
Never feed coyotes. Coyotes that are fed by people can become bold and aggressive. Keep a secure lid on your garbage and compost, do not leave pet food outside and pick your tree fruit before it falls.
Keep dogs on a leash and cats indoors, especially at night.

If the coyote does not run away or acts aggressively towards you:

Make eye contact and face the coyote, while slowly backing away.
Pick up small pets or young children.
If the coyote begins following you, haze the coyote by yelling, throwing rocks or other objects at the ground near the coyote, and using noisemakers.

For more information on coyotes, visit the Urban Coyote Initiative web page or the BC Human – Wildlife Contact Guidelines for Coyotes and Wolves.

Do not feed wildlife

Feeding dangerous wildlife, either intentionally or unintentionally, is against the law under the BC Wildlife Act . The City's Vector Control Bylaw and Littering and Dumping Prohibition Bylaw also restrict feeding wildlife such as rats as well as dumping garbage, which can be a wildlife attractant. Restrictions on feeding also include deliberately distributing pet food or human food for wildlife or leaving attractants unsecured and accessible to wildlife.

While often well-intentioned, providing food to wildlife can be harmful to them and their offspring. Consequences of feeding wildlife may include:

Attracting rodents or other small vectors that may carry disease.
Attracting larger predators, such as coyotes, bears, and cougars who prey on rodents and birds.
Directing wildlife away from natural, nutritional food sources.
Causing digestive issues and nutrient deficiencies in wildlife.
Disrupting the natural feeding, foraging, and migration behaviours of wildlife, and making them reliant on human food sources.
Spreading disease within or between wildlife populations by causing large groups to unnaturally congregate.
Harming domestic pets who may find remnant food left behind.

You can anonymously report observations of illegal wildlife feeding to Bylaw Services at 604.469.4541 or at bylaw@portmoody.ca.