Secure Your Waste

Coquitlam is home to bears, coyotes and other urban wildlife. These animals will often enter our neighbourhoods and yards looking for food or shelter. It is important that we avoid inviting wildlife to our properties by removing attractants, such as garbage, pet food, fruit and making others inaccessible, such as bird feeders.

"Bear Smart" Guidelines

  • Store Garbage Carts, Green Carts and recycling bins in an area inaccessible to wildlife.
  • Freeze meat and strong smelling food scraps, and transfer to the Green Cart on collection day.
  • Put all food waste in the Green Cart and not the Garbage Cart. 
  • Place Carts and recycling at the curbside after 5:30 a.m. on collection day.
  • Keep your Green Cart and Garbage Cart clean between collection days.
  • Store refrigerators and freezers inside. 
  • Keep pet food inside.
  • Pick fruit as soon as it is ripe.
  • Suspend bird feeders and clean up fallen bird seed.
  • Practice responsible backyard composting.
  • Keep barbeques clean.
  • Install a wildlife resistant enclosure. 

Violations and Fines

Residents can be fined up to $500 for not managing their attractants correctly. It is every resident’s responsibility to make sure their waste does not attract wildlife as outlined in our Solid Waste Management Bylaw (PDF) and Wildlife and Vector Control Bylaw (PDF). In addition, feeding wildlife is illegal in British Columbia under section 33.1 and 88.1 of the Wildlife Protection Act. 

Report a Concern

Report a wildlife concern using one of the following methods:

  • To report wildlife attractants, improper storage of attractants or wildlife accessing attractants, call the City at 604-927-3660.
  • To report wildlife that is aggressive or causing property damage, call the Conservation Officer Service at 1-877-952-7277.

The City of Coquitlam is a Bear Smart Community

In February 2017 the City of Coquitlam was formally recognized through the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy as a Bear Smart community.  

The Bear Smart Community program goal is to address the root causes of human-bear conflicts, thereby reducing the risks to human safety and private property, as well as the number of bears that have to be destroyed each year. This program is based on a series of criteria that communities must achieve in order to be recognized as being "Bear Smart." Learn more about the Bear Smart Community Program here.

Become a "Bear Smart" Household - Take the Pledge

You can promise to follow Coquitlam’s "Bear Smart" Guidelines and complete our online pledge to become a "Bear Smart Household." The City will mail you a Bear Smart sticker that you can display to show your community that you are a proud Bear Smart Household! Take the "Bear Smart" Pledge.

Educational Video

Wildlife Resistant Enclosures

If you are unable to store your carts in a secure area like a garage, a wildlife resistant enclosure can be used to secure solid waste and prevent wildlife from accessing attractants. Enclosures should be strong enough to withstand the weight and strength of a 600-pound animal.

Wildlife enclosures can include heavy-duty sheds, chain link fencing or prefabricated metal storage lockers/containers. A wildlife resistant enclosure is defined in the Solid Waste Management Bylaw No. 4679, 2016 as, “a fully-enclosed structure consisting of wall, roof, and door of sufficient design and strength so as to be capable of keeping its contents inaccessible to wildlife.” 

When choosing a wildlife resistant enclosure, consider the following:

  • Hinges and latches should be strong enough that they cannot be pried open by claws, and the trigger on the latch should be inaccessible to wildlife. Mount heavy duty hinges to the inside of the enclosure. 
  • The material should be strong enough that wildlife cannot bite through, bend or crush the enclosure.
  • Wooden enclosures should use plywood that is at least 5/9” thick, 2' x 4' construction, and screws instead of nails. 
  • There should be no seams that claws can get into. Seams can be covered with metal flashing. 
  • Enclosures should be designed without any overhangs that claws can grab. 
  • The enclosure should be anchored to a stationary base to prevent tipping.
  • The enclosure should have a roof/lid.

There are several companies that provide wildlife resistant enclosures, but availability and costs can be impacted by global supply chain issues:

  • HaulAll Hid-A-Cart - will fit up to one 360L garbage or green cart.
  • Tuffbox - This is a top-loaded enclosure. Garbage and green waste can be stored inside in a separate container, but will still need to be transferred to appropriate carts on collection day.

The following companies also provide wildlife resistant enclosures solutions:

Please reach out to Urban Wildlife staff for product recommendations.

Important Note: Remember, odours from solid waste can still attract wildlife, and you should continue to freeze food waste and regularly clean your carts to reduce odours.