Saskatchewan residents exploring the outdoors should be mindful to leave wildlife in the province alone. (Photo 48342304 © Ian Anderson _ Dreamstime.com)

By Josh Ryan

Respecting nature

Campers, hikers reminded to avoid wildlife

Mar 26, 2021 | 2:00 PM

As residents are set to begin enjoying the great outdoors again this spring, staying clear of the wildlife is an important part of that enjoyment.

Troy Thompson, conservation officer with the Ministry of Environment, said it’s important to remember to leave all animals alone when you’re out hiking, camping or other outdoor activities. Some people may be drawn to seeking wildlife when they catch a glimpse, but Thompson said it’s better to completely avoid any interaction, as it can have a negative effect on the local ecosystem.

“Wildlife is best left to their devices and left in the wild,” he said.

Saskatchewan has 34 provincial parks and two national parks, which feature a variety of animals to avoid. According to the Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan, there are more than 4,000 mammals in the wild in the province, such as deer, bears, wolves, coyotes and moose.

One of the examples is the result of feeding wild animals. While people may think they’re helping wildlife by making food available for them, Thompson said animals are used to finding their own food. Once they’ve been able to dip into a different supply they will grow accustomed to it, which not only increases the likelihood of human interaction, but also put’s their long-term health in danger.

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“People might put out a deer feeder, thinking they’re helping the deer, but it doesn’t at all,” he said. “It actually has them congregate into a small area and become reliant on a food source that isn’t reliable. If it’s almost suddenly not there, it leaves the animals in a worse position than before.”

In order to make sure you avoid animals, Thompson said everyone should understand the region or community they are going to. While parks are an obvious example, even river valley areas like Finlayson Island in the Battlefords are a common corridor for wildlife. Thompson said the first and most basic thing to do is to make sure your presence is known.

“That’s a place where they’d be wise to make some noise, talk with a group,” he said. “Make the wildlife realize that you are a person coming down the trail and not a potential source of food or another animal.”

And while it varies for the region people are in, Thompson said people shouldn’t worry if they’re loud. He said any wildlife that feels threatened can react aggressively, but they are generally more scared of people than the other way around.

“A moose, for example, might get aggressive, but a moose will shy away from a person 99 times out of 100,” he said. “Most of the time, you’d never know it’s there.”

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports