Coexisting with Wildlife

Keeping wildlife wild starts with properly securing attractants around your home. To help prevent wildlife from becoming food-conditioned:

• Store garbage and compost in wildlife-resistant containers and keep them secured indoors or in an enclosed area until the morning of collection.
• Rinse recycling to remove food residue.
• Clean BBQs after each use and store grease traps securely.
• Keep outdoor freezers, coolers, and fridges locked or stored in fully enclosed areas.
• Secure pet food, livestock feed, and backyard hens to prevent access by wildlife.
• Manage fruit trees by harvesting promptly, removing fallen fruit, and pruning to keep fruit reachable and manageable.
• Keep yards tidy by removing food scraps, fallen birdseed, or unsecured items that could attract animals.

Residents can also help by reporting concerns about unsecured attractants to the District. We can neighbourhood education, connect residents with resources and take bylaw enforcement action, if necessary, to reduce conflict risks.

Knowing how to respond during wildlife encounters helps keep both residents and animals safe. No matter the species, the key steps are similar: stay calm, make yourself known, give the animal space, and know when to report concerns.

If you see or encounter:

• Bears
  • Stay calm and speak calmly to identify yourself as human.
  • Back away slowly—do not run.
  • Give the bear lots of space and ensure it has an exit route.
  • Pick up small pets and keep dogs leashed.
• Cougars
  • Stay standing and make yourself look large.
  • Maintain eye contact and speak firmly.
  • Back away slowly and leave the area.
  • Pick up children and pets.
• Deer (including does with fawns)
  • Give deer plenty of space, especially during fawning season.
  • Keep dogs leashed—deer may see them as a threat.
  • Never approach fawns, even if they appear alone.
• Other common species
  • Maintain distance and let wildlife move.
  • Do not feed or approach any wild animal.

Report wildlife encounters when:

• An animal shows aggressive or threatening behaviour
• The animal does not leave when given space
• A bear or cougar is actively accessing garbage, compost, or other attractants
• You feel unsafe or unsure

For these situations, contact the Conservation Officer Service (RAPP line: 1-877-952-7277) or 911 in emergencies.

Pets can unintentionally attract wildlife or become vulnerable during encounters. Taking simple precautions helps keep both animals and your household safe.

Tips to protect your pets:

• Keep dogs leashed when walking, especially in wooded or high-activity wildlife areas.
• Supervise pets outdoors, particularly at dawn, dusk, and overnight when wildlife is most active.
• Keep cats indoors or in enclosed outdoor spaces (catios) to reduce risk from predators and prevent hunting of local wildlife.
• Secure pet food—store it indoors and do not leave dishes outside.
• Remove attractants in outdoor areas used by pets, such as fallen fruit or unsecured garbage.
• Protect backyard chickens or livestock using secure enclosures, proper fencing, and wildlife-resistant feed storage.

If your pet encounters wildlife:

• Stay calm and call your pet to you immediately.
• Do not approach wildlife to retrieve a pet—create space and allow the animal to move away.
• Leash or secure pets and leave the area once safe to do so.

When to report concerns:

• If wildlife displays aggressive behaviour toward pets
• If predators repeatedly approach a home or yard
• If attractants are drawing wildlife into residential areas

Contact the Conservation Officer Service (RAPP line: 1-877-952-7277) for wildlife safety concerns, or 911 in an emergency. Contact District of Sooke Bylaw to regarding securing attractants. 

Simple everyday choices can help protect local biodiversity and keep Sooke’s natural environment thriving. Small actions at home and in your neighbourhood contribute to healthier habitat, cleaner waterways, and a more resilient ecosystem.

How you can support local ecosystems:

• Plant native species that provide food and shelter for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.
• Avoid rodenticides and chemical pesticides, which can harm owls, eagles, pets, and other predators.
• Pick up after your dog to prevent bacteria and nutrients from entering local streams and marine areas.
• Remove invasive species from your yard and replace them with native plants.
• Participate in local stewardship activities, such as invasive species pulls, habitat restoration projects, or community tree planting events.
• Protect riparian areas by keeping vegetation intact along creeks and streams and avoiding disturbance.

Each of these actions helps maintain healthy habitat, supports biodiversity, and strengthens Sooke’s natural ecosystems.

Photographing wildlife can be a rewarding way to appreciate Sooke’s natural environment, but it’s important to do so safely and responsibly. Keeping your distance protects both you and the animals.

Safe wildlife photography tips:

• Give wildlife plenty of space - use zoom lenses instead of approaching animals.
• Stay on trails and natural viewpoints to avoid disturbing habitat or blocking escape routes.
• Remain calm and quiet, avoiding sudden movements that may startle animals.
• Be especially cautious during sensitive periods such as fawning season or when bears are feeding.
• Keep pets leashed and children close when photographing wildlife.
• Follow all posted signs and guidelines in parks and natural areas.
• Never bait or feed wildlife to get a photo. This is dangerous, illegal, and puts both people and animals at risk.
  • Report feeding or baiting immediately to the Conservation Officer Service (RAPP: 1-877-952-7277).

Respectful photography helps keep wildlife wild and allows others to enjoy Sooke’s natural beauty safely.

• Stay on established trails and viewpoints to protect stream banks and vegetation.
• Keep pets leashed and out of the water to avoid disturbing fish and sensitive habitat.
• Do not wade into streams, throw rocks, or allow children or pets to play in spawning areas.
• Avoid disturbing redds (gravel nests) where eggs are buried—these can be easily damaged.
• Observe quietly from a distance, allowing salmon space to move and spawn naturally.
• Never touch, capture, or move salmon at any stage.

• Keep pollutants, yard debris, and chemicals away from streams and drainage systems.
• Plant or maintain native vegetation along waterways to stabilize banks and provide shade.
• Report habitat damage or water quality concerns through the District’s service request system.

Invasive plants can damage sensitive ecosystems, reduce biodiversity, and harm important fish habitat. One of the most destructive invasive species in Sooke is Japanese knotweed, which spreads aggressively and weakens streambanks - directly threatening spawning salmon habitat.

The District of Sooke and T’Sou-ke Nation work together on knotweed eradication, focusing on priority areas along waterways and riparian zones. Removing knotweed helps restore healthy shorelines, protect stream stability, and improve conditions for salmon and other wildlife.

Residents can support this work by reporting knotweed sightings, avoiding cutting or composting invasive plants, and learning how to identify and manage invasive species on their property.