Vancouver Park Board considers ban on feeding any wild animal, bird, in city parks

Park board commissioners in Vancouver are preparing to vote on a proposal that could impose stiff fines for feeding any type of wildlife in city parks.

Commissioners are considering amendments that include a fine of $500 for anyone feeding wild animals ranging from pigeons, crows and geese to squirrels, raccoons and coyotes.

If the board adopts the recommendation at its meeting Monday night, a bylaw could be drafted and presented for enactment within weeks.

Attracting or feeding dangerous wildlife, including as coyotes, bears or cougars, is already banned under the Provincial Wildlife Act and a park board bylaw prohibits leaving food or grain anywhere except in a garbage can.

The board is seeking tougher measures in response to numerous coyote attacks in Stanley Park.

Eleven coyotes have been trapped and shot since last year, as food-conditioned coyotes were blamed for nipping or biting park visitors, including several children.