Wildlife in the City

City of Brampton is committed to ensuring a sustainable and resilient community where residents safely coexist with wildlife and natural ecosystems flourish. Human safety is the City’s number one priority in managing any human-wildlife conflicts that may emerge. Responsibility for wildlife spans a range of government levels, municipal departments and agencies. Various legislative acts and policies also guide what can be done and who needs to be involved. City of Brampton Animal Services will continue to provide information and resources to residents the effectively deter wildlife from their property or handle a wildlife conflict.

Wildlife in Brampton

Beaver are the largest rodent in North America and usually live in small lakes, rivers or wetlands. Beavers build dams using woody material, which helps by creating new wetlands, reduce erosion and help regulate the flow of rivers and streams. Beavers are not dangerous unless they feel trapped or cornered and that is when it will chose to stand their ground.

Beavers In Brampton pamphlet will provide more information about beaver in Brampton and what the City is doing.

If you are looking for more information about Beaver and how to prevent conflict see information provided by the Ministry Preventing Conflicts with Beavers

Canada Geese are adept at living in urban areas as there is an abundance of food and few natural predators. They are commonly found in park settings and on or close to fresh water. Canadian Geese are protected under the Migratory Birds Convention Act therefore it is illegal to harm geese, their eggs or their nests in Canada without a permit from Canadian Wildlife Services.

Canada Geese Frequently Asked Questions is a publication developed by Canadian Wildlife Service to provide more information and resources to prevent conflict, keep property safe and outline the protections for Canadian Geese.

Handbook for Canada & Cackling Geese also developed by Canadian Wildlife Services provides information about Management and population Control in Southern Canada.

Click here to learn more

View Coyote Sighting Map

In the City of Brampton it is the White Tailed Deer that shares our greenspace with us. Although deer appear to avoid human interactions when possible, they do easily habituate to human development and use residential areas that contain sufficient cover, such as golf courses, parklands and Shrub lines. Conflicts do occasionally occur and include things such as collisions with vehicles and damage to property.

To look for tips on how to protect your property and make if less inviting to deer and what precautions you can take to avoid conflict see this short read on the Ontario Ministry Website, Preventing & Managing Conflicts with Deer, Elk & Moose.

The Eastern Cottontail rabbits are native species to Canada and were traditionally found in or near wooded areas and meadows, however have had to adapt significantly to urbanization. Now you will see these rabbits frequent city parks, golf courses and residential yards. Residents can have very mixed opinions on rabbits due to their playful nature and their need to eat on vegetation such as a resident’s garden. In this page you will find facts and resources to learn more about rabbits, how to modify your yards to keep uninvited rabbits out and protecting your property when in conflict.

What to Do About Wild Rabbits?

Rats are common pest in large urban settings such as the City of Brampton. The brown rat also known as the Norway rat is the most common rat in Southern Ontario and not uncommon to be seeing throughout Brampton. This type of rat will build elaborate systems of tunnels and burrows just under the surface of the ground. They are commonly found in wood piles, rubbish bins, sewers and sometimes even homes if there is a cooler damp area of the home for them to dwell within.

There is also the roof rat (Also known as the Black Rat), which is significantly smaller in size, but often have longer tails than the brown rat. The roof rat is more of an agile climber and prefers to live in trees, vines and other dense vegetation. It is this type of rat that would be found in the roof or eaves of a building. It is very difficult to suggest you can get rid of all the rats from any one property, however you can control the numbers which intern controls the impact they can have within our community.

If you have a rat concern please see the Region of Peels website regarding their current program offered to residents of Peel.

Click here to learn more.