Update from Councillor Cathy Curry
There are a few things I always hear from residents about as the seasons change, so I wanted to share some information so that you are aware.
On-street Parking Restrictions – One thing we have heard about is questions on or residents looking for information about On-street parking restrictions – Regulations and restrictions | City of Ottawa. Winter parking restrictions are in effect between December 1 and March 31st, and on some streets, parking is prohibited between April 1st and November 30th. Some residents just have concerns that cars have been parked on their street for an extended amount of time.
Potholes – With the warmer weather, something we always hear about this time of season is potholes. Residents are encouraged to reach out to 311 or the Kanata North Office to report potholes. Learn more at Pothole Repairs – Kanata North.
Over-feeding of Wildlife– I had a resident reach out about over-feeding of wildlife in the neighbourhood. I have a reminder from the City of Ottawa website below that might be helpful.
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Putting out feeders for birds (and squirrels and chipmunks) is a popular way to attract these animals to your yard. Problems can occur if your feeders start to attract large flocks of birds that annoy your neighbours, or other wildlife such as rats, raccoons or even bears! You may need to stop feeding for a while or only put out small amounts that can be quickly eaten during the day.
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Do not feed animals that are likely to become a problem for you or your neighbours, whether in your yard, the local park or other greenspaces. Wild animals should not depend on humans for their food and should not learn to expect food from us. It could put them at risk of being hurt or killed, if they start approaching people aggressively in search of food.
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Do not leave food outside for your pet cat or dog. You could wind up feeding a lot of animals from that bowl, and some of them are likely to be unwelcome to you or your neighbours (e.g., rats, stray cats, raccoons, or coyotes). It could also place your pet at greater risk of injury or disease, either from fighting or from sharing their bowl with sick stray or wild animals.
Crime suspects– Recently, I had a few residents ask about why police do not immediately release photos of suspects during an investigation after this news release that was originally posted on March 12. When police were questioned about this, they shared that in many cases, incidents are first reviewed and assessed before being assigned to the appropriate investigative unit. This process can include collecting and analyzing evidence, confirming that a criminal offence has occurred, and attempting to identify the individual through investigative methods before seeking public assistance. While there are additional investigative steps that cannot always be shared publicly, police prioritize situations based on risk to community safety. If there is an immediate or heightened risk to the public, information is released more quickly. In other cases, taking the necessary time to review evidence and follow proper procedures helps ensure the integrity and effectiveness of the investigation.
Dead coyote on Golf Course Lands– I heard from a number of residents there was a dead coyote on the golf course lands. Residents wondered if the coyote could have died from Mercury contamination. I checked with staff at Natural Systems at the City and they said the following:
“Mercury toxicity in wildlife normally occurs in larger, long-lived predators through a process of bioaccumulation: the consumption of smaller, prey animals, which have been exposed to low, non-toxic levels of mercury. The accumulation of mercury in this way can reach toxic levels in the larger animals over time. It occurs most often in aquatic environments and species, where biologically active methylmercury is more common….At this time, we do not believe there is any reason to suspect the death of the coyote is related to activities on the golf course.”
I understand that there is now another sick coyote on the Golf Course Lands. See this video that a resident sent to me. I have sent this video on to City staff for their consideration as well.