Councillor Cesar Palacio
Chair, Licensing and Standards Committee
10th Floor, West Tower, City Hall
100 Queen St. West
Toronto ON M5H 2N2
May 23, 2013
Re: Mitigating the negative impacts of urban wildlife
Every year, over one hundred Toronto residents each receive a painful, precautionary rabies shot following a bite from a racoon or other animal. Many hundreds of homeowners and tenants personally know the home and property damage that raccoons, skunks, and opossums can cause.
As a first step toward mitigating the negative impacts of urban wildlife, I believe it would be helpful to request the City Manager to report on the extent to which the City monitors its urban wildlife populations; to report on initiatives in other jurisdictions to reduce the adverse effects of urban wildlife, including property damage and risks to public health; and to request recommendations to adapt those initiatives to the City of Toronto.
Recommendation:
1. City Council request the Executive Director, Municipal Licensing and Standards, to report to the Licensing and Standards Committee by
a. how the City of Toronto currently monitors its urban wildlife, including but not limited to raccoons;
b. initiatives and best practices used in other jurisdictions to address the adverse effects of urban wildlife, including but not limited to property damage and risks to public health; and
c. recommended actions to reduce the effects of urban wildlife in the City of Toronto and improve public health, reduce property damage, and increase everyone’s enjoyment of both private and public outdoor spaces.
Sincerely,
Josh Matlow
Toronto City Councillor
Ward 22 – St. Paul’s
www.joshmatlow.ca
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