Wildlife Management

Appearance

• elongated face with a distinctive black and white pattern
• small round ears
• fur is brown, black and white
• stocky body with short powerful legs
• body length is 60-75 cm (23.6-29.5 in), weight is 7-9 kg (15.5-19.8 lbs)
• large fore claws, up to 5 cm (2 in) in length

Behaviour & Habitat

• Use aggression as a defense mechanism and will snarl, hiss or bare their teeth if provoked. Typically they do this while backing away. Sometimes they move forward in an attempt to chase a threat away from their burrow.
• Use many burrows within their home range. Many of these burrows will be re-used by other animals such as other badgers, foxes and coyotes.
• Habitat is typically open grasslands where badgers can find prey. They prefer prairie regions containing sandy loam soil.
• It is rare for badgers to live within a city. They can be seen moving through urban areas during the fall when they are expanding their territory to find mates and when the young are dispersing in May and June.
• When seen in the city, it is usually in neighbourhoods close to large natural areas.
• Are mostly solitary and nocturnal.
• Despite being nocturnal, badgers can be seen during the day, especially during the spring when females forage and return at night to stay with the young.
• Do not hibernate but become less active during the winter.

Diet

Badgers are fossorial carnivores, meaning they dig and feed on animals under the ground. They feed predominantly on agricultural pests such as ground squirrels, pocket gophers and voles, but will also prey on other small animals, insects (including bees and honeycomb) and some vegetation.

What to do if you have a close encounter with a badger?

• Never approach or feed a badger.
• Identify and maintain escape routes to allow badgers to retreat to their burrows.
• Badgers will act aggressive when they feel threatened. If this occurs calmly leave the area. Badgers will not pursue over great distances.
• If you see a badger in the city it is most likely just moving through, take the opportunity to admire it from a safe distance.
• If the badger is injured, trapped or diseased call Urban Biological Services at 306-975-3300.

 Living with Urban Wildlife - Badger Brochure

About

The most common species of bat in Saskatoon is the big brown bat (Eptesicus fuscus). This species will often roost in homes and old buildings. All bats in Saskatoon feed on insects and it is common to see them foraging at night. Bats eat large quantities of night flying insects including moths, beetles and flies (including mosquitoes). If bats are disturbed from a roosting site or during the spring and fall migration, it is possible to see them during the day. If you see a bat during the day leave it alone as it will likely leave during the evening.

Reproduction and life cycle

Bats hibernate from November to May. The females form maternity or brood colonies. This is where the pups are born. The brood colonies can be found in barns, houses, trees and crevices. The colony size can vary from less than ten to several hundred individuals. Males will roost singly or in small groups. Young bats can fly at approximately 6 weeks. Mating occurs in the fall.

Disease

A bite from any animal can be dangerous and if you are bitten you should consult a physician. Bats can carry rabies and potentially transmit rabies to people or pets. Rabies is a serious neurological disease that is often fatal. If you observe a bat lying on the ground do not touch it, as it may be sick or injured. These can be reported to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan 306-242-7177 or the City of Saskatoon, Parks Division 306-975-3300. It is important to have your pets vaccinated against rabies.

What you can do?

Bats are protected under the  Saskatchewan Wildlife Act  and cannot be killed or disturbed. The mere presence of bats does not necessitate their removal. If there is little chance for contact with people, there is no need to remove them. If you find that you have bats in your home, exclusion may be an option where they pose a physical or health risk to individuals or present a significant impediment to building use. This can involve installing one way doors so that as bats leave they cannot re-enter, however a permit is required from the Ministry of Environment and installation can only occur between May 1 and May 31 and/or between September 1 and September 30.  Installing bat houses prior to applying exclusion methods increases the likelihood that bats will change their roost location. 

About

Coyotes are very common in Saskatoon and part of our natural urban environment.

While coyotes normally avoid humans, unintentional feeding may change a coyote’s proximity tolerance to people or pets. Urban coyotes may appear quite comfortable around people depending on their level of habituation.

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are part of a balanced ecosystem and help control rodent and rabbit populations.  They are members of the dog family, native to North America and resemble a medium-sized dog, with adults weighing 10-18 kilograms.  Coyotes are up to 1.5 meters long  and stand about 60 cm at the shoulder (long winter fur often makes these animals appear larger). Males are typically larger than females. Fur colouration can vary from reddish-brown to gray.

Coyotes can be found in urban centers throughout North America. They are most commonly found in open spaces like parks and school grounds, but can also be seen in residential neighbourhoods. Due to behavioural changes, coyote sightings increase during the winter months, which can include increased activity throughout the day and greater frequenting residential neighbourhoods. This is especially true of young coyotes which do not have established territories and are seeking food and shelter. Coyotes will seek shelter under decks and other structures and will often feed on fruit, bird feed (especially containing lard or suet), and pet food.

Coyotes are extremely difficult to live trap as they are very suspicious of baited cage traps (one is more likely to catch a wandering domestic animal). In addition, relocated coyotes do not thrive in unfamiliar spaces. Eliminating urban coyotes destablizes their family structure. Elimination also creates a vacancy in the ecological niche; encouraging new coyotes to move in.

Coyotes and disease

Rabies is rare in Saskatchewan and rare in coyotes. In Saskatchewan the most common carriers of rabies are bats and skunks. Coyotes are not common carriers and are rarely involved in the transmission of the disease to humans or pets. Coyotes can be carriers of canine distemper and Echinococcus multilocularis, a tapeworm that can be found in the digestive tract of coyotes. It is important to vaccinate pets and provide de-worming medication on a regular basis.

Coyotes and pets

Coyotes will occasionally act aggressively towards dogs and cats. Aggression towards dogs is more likely to occur when coyotes have pups in their den. It is not uncommon for a coyote to ‘escort’ or ‘shadow’ a dog-walker out of an area when pups or a den are nearby. Conflict between dogs and coyotes may occur near coyote den sites or in established coyote territory. It is the responsibility of pet owners to supervise and maintain control over their leashed pet when outdoors.

If you encounter a coyote

• Allow the coyote to leave by providing an open escape route. Do not turn your back or run
• Act assertive, maintain eye-contact, stand tall, make yourself big, wave your arms and shout (don’t scream) while approaching the coyote until it leaves
• Use a noisemaker, such as an air horn, clanging pots and pans, a whistle, shaking a can (such as a pop can filled with coins or pebbles), snapping an empty garbage bag open or an umbrella popping open and closed
• Use a projectile thrown toward, but not at, a coyote, such as sticks, clumps of dirt, small rocks or a tennis ball
• During warm months, use liquids, such as a garden hose, water gun, or water balloons
• Never attempt to feed a coyote
• Keep pets under control to avoid creating additional stress for the animal
• If the coyote is acting unusual (approaching people, limping, staggering or acting confused), contact Urban Biological Services at 306-975-2476

 What you can expect from us

1. To monitor and record coyote activity in the City of Saskatoon and place informational signs in areas with high coyote activity, such as den sites
2. To provide educational opportunities regarding peaceful coexistence with urban coyotes
3. To retrieve injured, immobile or trapped coyotes (note that a coyote in a backyard is not considered "trapped").

 How you can help us

1. Appreciate coyotes from a distance
2. Secure your yard with fencing and ensure that gates remain closed
3. Do not feed pets outside
4. Do not leave small pets unattended in backyard for extended periods of time
5. Clean around barbecues, bird feeders and fruit trees
6. Remove and prevent potential hiding and den sites
7. Install motion activated lights

 Living with Urban Wildlife - Coyote Brochure

Since pocket gophers live below ground, they are commonly called moles in Saskatchewan and the term gopher is used to describe the Richardson’s ground squirrel and other ground squirrels. True moles are members of the family Talpidae. There are no mole species in Saskatoon with the closest species, the star-nosed mole, occurring in southern Manitoba. 

Appearance

• Fur is light brown to black and lighter on the underside
• Front claws modified for digging
• Eyes almost closed
• Body length is 17-25 cm (6.7-9.8 in) including the tail, weight is 90-100g (0.2-0.22 lb) 

Behaviour & Habitat

• Named for the fur lined pockets on their cheeks that are used to store food.
• Northern pocket gophers are native to Saskatchewan and are common in Saskatoon.
• One pocket gopher is capable of constructing a large below ground network of tunnels (up to 75 square metres).
• Tunnels are used to find food and mates.
• Females have one liter of 4-6 young in May or June and the pups disperse in late summer or fall.
• Create distinct mounds of soil that do not appear to have an entrance. They use a soil plug to hide the burrow entrance.
• Pocket gophers will feed in gardens and fields and build mounds, which is a concern because of potential damage they can cause to crops and equipment. 

Diet

These animals are herbivores and feed on many different plant species. Most of the feeding occurs below ground but pocket gophers will also feed on the surface. Pocket gophers feed in gardens and can damage vegetables, particularly plants with below ground tubers (e.g. carrots and potatoes).

Advice for residents

There may be cases where pocket gophers are not problematic and co-existence is an option. If management is required, there are lethal and non-lethal control options. Consult home and garden centres for advice on managing pocket gophers on private property. 

 Living with Urban Wildlife - Pocket Gopher Brochure

Appearance

• Fur is dark brown and lighter on the underside
• Weight varies considerably throughout the year; at emergence ground squirrels weigh 200-400g (0.44-0.88 lbs) and 750 g (1.6 lbs) by the time they are ready to hibernate
• Body length is 30 cm (12 inches) long including the tail

Behaviour & Habitat

• Native to the prairie provinces and common in urban areas.
• Known to flick their tails as they retreat into their burrow, which is why Richardson’s ground squirrels have the common nickname ‘flickertails’.
• The burrows are grouped closely together in colonies.
• Their burrowing behaviour can create hazards in sports fields, golf courses, parks and open spaces. They are also known to dig burrows under and beside structures including sidewalks and patios.
• Males emerge from hibernation in March and establish territories before the females emerge a few weeks later.
• Females produce one litter per year, litter-size ranges from 6 to 14. The pups are born in April or May and remain in their burrows for 30 days. The pups emerge from natal burrows late May to mid-June.
• Adults may hibernate as early as July, although in their first year, ground squirrels may not hibernate until September.
• Richardson’s ground squirrels have a number of predators in Saskatoon including badgers, coyotes, hawks, weasels and foxes. 

Diet

Richardson’s ground squirrels are omnivores, eating seeds, nuts, grains, grasses and insects. Feeding on annuals and perennials can be problematic in urban areas, although, the more common concern is the damage caused by the burrows. 

Advice for residents

Richardson’s ground squirrels are unlikely to form colonies and be problematic in residential yards. Co-existing with ground squirrels is an option but there may be circumstances where ground squirrels need to be controlled. Consult home and garden centres for more advice on managing ground squirrels on private property. 

 Living with Urban Wildlife - Richardson's Ground Squirrel Brochure