Ottawa has updated its wildlife strategy. Does it go far enough?

When a black bear roamed the streets of a Kanata neighbourhood in 2023, some believe it may have been attracted by the usual wildlife attractants—garbage, birdfeeders—or that it may have been squeezed out of its forestry habitat as Ottawa continues its urban sprawl. 

But most residents did not believe it deserved to die.  

Killed by Ottawa City Police over public safety concerns, the occurrence shed light on the disconnect between the city’s wildlife policies and its residents' attitudes. 

In 2024, the City of Ottawa updated its wildlife plan for the first time since 2013 with its updated action plan. However, some advocacy groups and community stakeholders say the city is still behind.

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