The City of Colwood is considering a new bylaw to ensure all residents store and dispose of their garbage responsibly, to help reduce encounters with wildlife such as bears and cougars.

As part of a new wildlife education initiative for 2024, the city has teamed up with Sooke-based organization, Wild Wise, a volunteer-run educational program designed to reduce human-wildlife conflict and promote coexistence.

At a meeting on Monday (Sept. 9), councillors were told the initiative, which is being trialled for 2024, will include temporary signage across the city and pop-up education events.

Kicking off the project, Mollie Cameron from Wild Wise gave a presentation to councillors, during which she highlighted that unsecured garbage is one of the biggest contributors to human-wildlife conflicts.

B次元官网网址淥ne thing that Wild Wise has been encouraging is districts, cities and municipalities to write bylaws to hold people accountable for their attractants,B次元官网网址� said Cameron. B次元官网网址淣ot everybody cares about wildlife, but everybody cares about their own money. And it's the best way that we can save these animals and get people to respect their wild neighbours.B次元官网网址�

And with Halloween on the horizon, Cameron encouraged the city to think of innovative ways to better dispose of pumpkins after the holiday instead of leaving them on Veterans Memorial Parkway.

B次元官网网址淏ecause not only does that attract bears, it also attracts deer and poses a huge threat for vehicle collisions,B次元官网网址� said Cameron, who suggested Colwood organize a pumpkin-smash event, similar to Sooke.

The suggestions were met with enthusiasm from councillors.

B次元官网网址淚 think this is perfect,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Ian Ward about the idea of an annual pumpkin smash event, which he thought could become a new tradition for the city.

Coun. Misty Olsen suggested going a step further and making a formal amendment to the cityB次元官网网址檚 animal control bylaws.

B次元官网网址淚've been through our animal control dialogue and I actually don't think there is any language in there that requires people to secure garbage,B次元官网网址� said Olsen.

"I do think securing garbage is a big issue,B次元官网网址� said Ward in support. B次元官网网址淧eople don't want to put their garbage into their garages for space considerations,B次元官网网址� he continued. "And higher density homes, they leave them out 24-7, and that has caused some problems.B次元官网网址�

The time of day residents put their garbage outside for collection was also raised as a concern.

B次元官网网址淎 lot of times people don't put them (bins) out in the morning, they put them out at night,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Kim Jordison. B次元官网网址淎nd they (animals) can get at bins earlier.B次元官网网址�

City staff will review the bylaws next month and will present to council options for both education and enforcement.