‘20-30 raccoons’: Wildlife feeding irks residents, prompts change

An overabundance of raccoons, damaged vegetation, and unusually tame wildlife have prompted residents living near Prentice Park Pond in North Saanich to urge the district to ban the feeding of wild animals.

David Mahlum, who lives very close to the pond, told council that raccoon numbers in the area can swell to 20 or 30 at a time, with animals regularly wandering onto his property. In a letter to council, Mahlum warned that raccoons can be unpredictable and aggressive despite their appearance.

“While they are very cute, they can also be very aggressive and without warning,” Mahlum wrote, noting that fights between raccoons are frequent and often result in visible injuries such as missing ears, tails, or limbs. He added that residents must be cautious when working in their yards to avoid startling the animals.

Mahlum emphasized that although Prentice Park Pond provides a healthy natural habitat, the problem stems from people feeding wildlife regularly—sometimes twice a day. As a result, animals have become overly dependent on humans.

“The animals become like domestic livestock,” he said. “It is strange to see deer standing around waiting for food and raccoons laying on their sides, lazily feeding with one hand.”

North Saanich currently does not have a bylaw that explicitly prohibits feeding wildlife. However, after receiving Mahlum’s letter, council unanimously approved a motion directing staff to draft such a bylaw.

“I know many municipalities have grappled with the same issue,” said Coun. Kristine Marshall.

Wildlife organizations, including the BC SPCA, caution that feeding wild animals often causes habituation, where animals lose their natural fear of people and begin to associate homes with food. This can increase the risk of disease transmission, property damage, aggressive behavior, vehicle collisions, and the attraction of larger predators.

Other residents have experienced similar problems. Marilyn and Vernon Lappi wrote to council the same day, describing a “surge” in raccoon and deer activity near their home. “These deer eat everything,” they wrote, also recounting raccoon fights in their yard that appeared violent and prolonged.

Under the BC Wildlife Act, feeding is prohibited only for “dangerous wildlife” such as bears, cougars, wolves, and coyotes. As a result, many municipalities—including Victoria and Oak Bay—have implemented their own bylaws restricting the feeding of other wildlife.

The City of Victoria, for example, bans the intentional feeding of animals such as deer, raccoons, squirrels, and rabbits throughout the city, and restricts feeding certain birds like pigeons, crows, and gulls in core areas.

For Mahlum, North Saanich’s move toward a bylaw is a welcome step.

“It seems unfair to the wildlife to allow close human interaction and dependency on them,” he wrote.

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