What to do when wild animals get into your home or yard: in B.C., keep people safe first, then call the right number, then stop them from coming back

1. Check three things first: Is everyone safe? Has anyone, or any pet, touched it? What animal is it?

First: Is everyone safe? Whatever animal you see, first bring children and pets inside and close the doors. Watch from a window. Do not walk up to the animal to take photos, pick up a dog leash or bring in the garbage bin. If the animal is just passing through and is not coming toward people, give it time and space to leave on its own.

Second: Has anyone, or any pet, touched it? This is the one most easily overlooked. For example, a bat flying into a bedroom in the middle of the night may not seem like much, but it can matter more than a deer eating flowers in the yard. That is because in B.C., bats are the only wild animals currently known to carry the rabies virus, and the bite marks a bat leaves are small and hard to see (section 4 explains this in detail). If you are bitten or scratched by a wild mammal (a furry animal that drinks milk when it is young, such as a bat, raccoon or deer), or its saliva gets into your eyes, mouth or broken skin, wash the wound right away and see a doctor (section 11).

Third: What animal is it, and where is it? Different animals mean different people to call:

• Bears, cougars (also called mountain lions) and wolves: these three, plus the coyote, which does not live on Vancouver Island, make four species that B.C. law calls "dangerous wildlife." If one is in a residential area, call the conservation officer line (section 2).
• Deer: usually there is no need to report them. Call the conservation officer line only if a deer is no longer afraid of people, chases people or dogs, or is lying injured on the road.
• Raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, pigeons, crows and geese: conservation officers generally do not respond; you need to manage your own garbage and food. If one is injured, contact Wild ARC.
• Bats: the key is whether anyone has touched it. If someone has, contact a doctor and public health.

If the animal is already inside. Leave by a route that does not take you past the animal; if you cannot get out, go into a room with a door you can close. Do not block the animal's way out. If you can do so safely, open a door that leads directly outside so it can leave on its own, then move away. Bats are handled differently; see section 4.

When to call 911 directly. Someone is being attacked by an animal or is trapped; someone is bleeding heavily, cannot breathe or has passed out; or a bear, cougar or wolf is trying to get into a house where people are, and there is immediate danger. Get to a safe place first, then call 911. The website of Victoria Animal Control Services also says that if you see dangerous wildlife (cougars, bears, wolves) in the city, you should report it to the Conservation Officer Service or call 911.

Related: for safety basics at home, see Guide No. 20, Staying safe and getting help; for emergency phone numbers of all kinds, see the Guide No. 20 companion sheet, Emergency phone sheet.

2. Which number to call: what each one handles and what to say first

First, be clear about what each one is for: if a person is in danger, call 911; for dangerous wildlife, call the Conservation Officer Service; for injured small animals and birds, call the BC SPCA Animal Helpline (in the Victoria area, Wild ARC); for a possible rabies exposure, see a doctor and contact public health; if animals have moved into your attic, contact your landlord, property manager or a legitimate wildlife control company (for how to choose a company, see section 13).

911 offers interpretation. E-Comm, the centre that answers 911 calls, says it has interpretation 24 hours a day, connected in under a minute, in more than 200 languages. You only need to say the name of your language in English first, for example "Mandarin" or "Cantonese." E-Comm also suggests that family members who do not speak much English learn three words first: police, fire and ambulance.

8-1-1 also offers interpretation. HealthLink BC's 8-1-1 is a free health line with nurses available 24 hours a day and translation services in more than 130 languages. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call 7-1-1.

We could not confirm whether RAPP and Wild ARC offer Chinese interpretation. You can try saying "I need a Mandarin interpreter" first; if that does not work, ask a family member or friend who speaks English to call for you.

What RAPP handles and what it does not. According to the Province, the RAPP line is for reporting contact between people and wildlife that may threaten public safety. You can call about bears, cougars or wolves that are in a residential area or are aggressive. Deer are different: Victoria Animal Control Services' website states that for "nuisance" problems such as deer eating flowers or coming into yards, conservation officers generally do not respond (the same goes for raccoons, squirrels, crows and geese); most of these you solve yourself, by securing garbage and putting up netting or fencing. Report a deer to RAPP only if it injures people, chases people or dogs, or is not afraid of people; for an injured deer, conservation officers respond only when it is down on the ground and cannot get up. Non-urgent reports, such as illegal hunting or illegal dumping, can be made through an online form.

What Wild ARC is. Wild ARC is the wildlife rehabilitation centre run by the BC SPCA (British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) in Metchosin, at 1020 Malloch Rd, Metchosin. It is the only wildlife rehabilitation centre on southern Vancouver Island and is open every day of the year: 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from May 1 to August 31, and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from September 1 to April 30. Always call before bringing an animal in. Call the BC SPCA Animal Helpline at 1-855-622-7722, which is answered every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; on statutory holidays, only wildlife calls from southern Vancouver Island are answered (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). For animal emergencies outside these hours, the BC SPCA says to contact the local police, the RCMP or the Conservation Officer Service's RAPP line. Wild ARC does not have the permits or facilities to treat bears, cougars or wolves; do not try to put any of these three in your car; call RAPP.

Island Health's communicable disease team. Island Health is the public health and hospital system for Vancouver Island. Its communicable disease team (the web page is now called Infectious disease and outbreak support) lists "rabies exposure management" among its services, and no doctor's referral is needed. The Victoria office is at 1947 Cook St; phone 250-388-2225, toll-free 1-866-665-6626. We could not confirm its office hours; after hours, if you are unsure, call 8-1-1 to ask a nurse, or go to an emergency department.

Related: for all emergency and non-emergency phone numbers, see the Guide No. 20 companion sheet, Emergency phone sheet.

3. Which animals live on Vancouver Island, and which do not

Wild ARC says that because Vancouver Island is surrounded by sea, it has fewer kinds of mammals than the mainland. Many response guides online are written for all of Canada or for the United States, and what they say may not apply in Victoria.

Animals that do live on the island (this guide covers all of them):

• Black bears: WildSafeBC (a program run by the BC Conservation Foundation to reduce conflicts between people and wildlife, recommended on the Province's web pages) says black bears are found throughout B.C.
• Cougars: widespread in B.C.; they mainly eat deer, so they may be wherever there are many deer.
• Wolves: WildSafeBC says wolves were once wiped out on Vancouver Island and have now come back.
• Black-tailed deer: found along the B.C. coast, on Vancouver Island and on most coastal islands.
• Raccoons: found on B.C.'s south coast, on Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii, and in the southern Interior.
• Bats: B.C. has 15 species of bats.
• Rats: B.C. has two kinds of large rats, the Norway rat and the roof rat.
• There are also squirrels, wild rabbits, pigeons, crows, gulls, Canada geese and, along the shore, seals. City of Victoria bylaws specifically cover feeding deer, raccoons, squirrels and wild rabbits; Saanich covers feeding deer and wild rabbits (section 12).

Animals WildSafeBC says are not found, or not usually found, on Vancouver Island:

• Coyotes: found throughout B.C., but not on Vancouver Island.
• Striped skunks: found in most of B.C., but not on Vancouver Island, Haida Gwaii or other coastal islands.
• Grizzly bears: not usually on Vancouver Island.
• Moose: not usually on the coast.
• Rattlesnakes: B.C. has only one species, which lives in dry valleys in the southern Interior.

So a "bear" seen in a Victoria yard is usually a black bear, according to the ranges WildSafeBC describes. But WildSafeBC also cautions that brown-coloured black bears are often mistaken for grizzlies, so do not tell bear species apart by colour and size alone.

The mainland and the Interior are different. According to the ranges WildSafeBC describes: once you take the ferry to the mainland, there are coyotes and skunks around Vancouver; farther inland you may also meet grizzly bears and moose; and there are rattlesnakes in the dry valleys of the southern Interior. Before you go, check the warnings from local parks and WildSafeBC.

Which animals carry the rabies virus. HealthLink BC states that in B.C., bats are the only animals currently known to carry the rabies virus, and other animals are rarely infected; elsewhere in Canada and North America, raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes also carry it. WildSafeBC and the BC SPCA both say rabies has never been found in B.C. raccoons. If you are bitten by an animal in another province or country, the rules are different; see section 11.

Related: for how to prepare before going into the mountains or the backcountry, see Guide No. 22, Lost outdoors: prevention and survival.

4. A bat flies into the bedroom: this is the one that matters most

Why bats need special care. The BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) says that in B.C., about 0.5% of bats carry the rabies virus; but among bats sent for testing, an average of 8% test positive, because bats that come into contact with people and pets are more likely to be sick. A bat bite leaves a very small mark that may soon disappear. Once rabies symptoms start, it is almost always fatal; but getting the shots before symptoms start can prevent it. So the key question is: has anyone, or any pet, touched it?

What counts as "touching." The Canadian Immunization Guide (part of which was updated in September 2026) defines it this way:

• A live bat touching a person's skin, for example landing on someone or being touched by someone, counts as contact; even a brief touch needs to be dealt with.
• A bat tangled in someone's hair counts as contact, because it is hard to be sure it did not touch the skin.
• A bat landing on clothing also needs to be dealt with, unless you can be sure it did not touch the skin (for example, if it only landed on a thick coat).
• A bat's saliva getting into a wound, the eyes or the mouth also counts.
• A bat simply being in the same room as a person, even a sleeping person, does not count as contact, unless it actually touched them.
• For young children, or people who cannot clearly describe what happened (for example, someone who is drunk or has a cognitive impairment), the doctor will look at these things: the person says they were touched; they woke up crying or frightened while the bat was in the room; bite marks or scratches can be seen on the body.

Case 1: Someone may have touched it. Do not let the bat go yet, because catching it and sending it for testing will show whether shots are needed. Follow HealthLink BC's steps:

1. Wash the area that was touched with soap and warm water under moderate water pressure for at least 15 minutes. Wash it even if you cannot see a wound.
2. See a doctor right away; on Vancouver Island, you can also call Island Health's communicable disease team at 250-388-2225 (toll-free 1-866-665-6626). After hours, call 8-1-1 or go to an emergency department.
3. Ask a wildlife professional or a pest control company to catch the bat; public health may be able to recommend someone (for how to choose a company, see section 13).
4. If nobody can come, you can catch it yourself, but your hands must not touch it: close the doors and windows of that room; wear a hat and leather gloves, a long-sleeved jacket and long pants; cover the bat with something like a shoebox, a coffee can or a pot, then slide a piece of stiff cardboard underneath to close the opening; keep it in a cool place that people and pets cannot reach. Do not kill it; then call public health and follow their instructions on what to do next. Clean the container you used with boiling water.

For example: one morning you find a bat in your 3-year-old's room, and the child cannot say whether they were touched. Do not let the bat go yet; close the bedroom door to keep it inside; check whether the child woke up crying during the night and whether there are any bite marks or scratches on the body; then call Island Health right away and let them decide whether shots are needed. Start by saying: "There was a bat in my child's bedroom. I don't know if it touched them."

Case 2: You are sure no person or pet touched it. HealthLink BC says not to try to catch it in this case. Close the doors to the rest of the house, open the window in that room, leave the room and wait for the bat to fly out on its own. WildSafeBC also suggests turning off ceiling fans and lights. If it really cannot get out, call a wildlife professional or a pest control company.

If you find a sick or dead bat. Do not touch it with your bare hands. Wear waterproof gloves, or use two layers of plastic bags, or a small shovel. For a dead bat that nobody touched: BCCDC says the BC Community Bat Program collects dead bats from November 1 to May 31 each year (to monitor bat diseases), so during this period, call 1-855-922-2287 to ask whether they want it; from June 1 to October 31 they do not collect them, and you can safely put it in the garbage; if you see one in the woods or far from where people live, leave it alone. Do not poke at an injured bat; call Wild ARC at 1-855-622-7722 to ask what to do.

A group of bats living in the attic. Bats are protected under the B.C. Wildlife Act; they must not be harmed, harassed or killed. The BC Community Bat Program says many homeowners live peacefully with bats, so first think about whether you can share your home with them; the noise and bat droppings can be cleaned up regularly. If you really want them out:

• Never do this in summer. Summer is the season when bats raise their young, and the young cannot fly yet; sealing the holes then will trap them inside to die.
• On timing, the same BC Community Bat Program page says two different things: in one place, that it can only be done between September 1 and April 30; in another, that it must not be done from May to September. In some places bats return early, so April may not work either. So if you are unsure about early September or April, call 1-855-922-2287 before you start.
• On the coast and in southern B.C., winter is not recommended either, because bats may be hibernating in the house. So in the Victoria area, fall is the best time.
• First put up a bat box nearby to give them another place to live; then install a one-way exit that lets them out but not back in; once you are sure they have all left, seal every gap. Bats can get through a gap of 12 mm (half an inch).
• This often takes several years to get completely right. If you are unsure, call the BC Community Bat Program.

5. Raccoons: going through the garbage, getting into the attic, or having babies under the deck

A few things to know first. Raccoons are protected under the B.C. Wildlife Act. Keeping a raccoon as a pet is illegal in B.C. Rabies has never been found in B.C. raccoons. Raccoons are usually afraid of people, but they can become aggressive when cornered or grabbed; cats and small dogs that fight with raccoons can be seriously injured or even killed.

Meeting a raccoon in the yard. The BC SPCA suggests yelling at it, stamping your feet, clapping your hands and making noise to scare it away. It may feel a bit silly, but it keeps raccoons afraid of people, which is good for both people and raccoons. Keep cats and dogs indoors from dusk to dawn, and lock pet doors at night.

Finding the garbage bin knocked over in the morning. Do not reach out to grab anything from its mouth. Following what WildSafeBC and the BC SPCA say:

• Close the lids of garbage and food scraps bins tightly, keep the bins in a garage or shed, and put them out only on the morning of collection day.
• Freeze smelly items (meat, fish) first and put them in the bin on the morning of collection day.
• Rinse recyclable bottles and cans, and wash the bins regularly.
• Do not leave garbage in the box of a pickup truck, even if it has a cover.
• Feed pets indoors and bring in leftover food bowls right away.
• Pick up fruit that falls from trees; sweep up the seeds under bird feeders, or simply take the feeders down for now.

City of Victoria rules: garbage and food scraps are collected every two weeks, and bins should be put out before 7 a.m. on collection day. WildSafeBC says many local bylaws do not allow bins to be put out at the curb the day before collection.

A raccoon gets into the attic or chimney, or has babies under a patio or deck. The biggest danger is separating the mother from her babies: if only the adult raccoon is driven out and the babies are left behind, they will most likely starve.

• The BC SPCA suggests dealing with raccoon problems before March or after August if possible, to avoid the season when they have young.
• You can use gentle methods to get it to move out on its own: put a bright light in the den, or leave a radio on next to the den (tuned to a talk station); or put a cloth soaked in apple cider vinegar in a plastic container, tape the lid shut, poke a few holes in it, and place it in the den or at the entrance, adding more vinegar every few days.
• WildSafeBC says that if raccoons are living under your deck, you can enclose the space under the deck and install a one-way door that lets them out but not back in; but not while the babies are still too young to leave on their own.
• If you cannot handle it yourself, hire someone. The BC SPCA recommends its AnimalKind-accredited companies, which get the animals out and then seal the openings, instead of trapping, relocating or killing them (section 13 explains how to choose a company).
• Never use poison on raccoons; this is illegal (WildSafeBC says so directly).
• Do not crawl into the attic yourself or reach into holes.

Can you trap it and release it somewhere else? The short answer: on Vancouver Island, you cannot simply trap a raccoon and take it away to release it. Section 3 of the provincial Designation and Exemption Regulation (B.C. Reg. 168/90) sets these conditions for animals such as raccoons: they may only be trapped on your own land (or on someone else's private land with the owner's consent); once trapped, they may be held for no more than 24 hours; and they may only be released on Crown land or on your own land. On Vancouver Island, this exemption does not apply if the release site is more than 1 km from where the animal was trapped, and the animal also cannot be taken to another island to be released, unless a conservation officer has approved it in advance. Victoria Animal Control Services' raccoon page also says that moving a raccoon more than 1 km is illegal in any season; it also says raccoons cannot be trapped from April 1 to September 30 (unless they clearly need rescuing, or a conservation officer has given permission), but we could not find the source of this rule in the provincial regulation. WildSafeBC says it is hard to trap one yourself in a way that is both humane and safe; the BC SPCA says trapping and relocating is not a long-term solution and is not humane, and trapping in the wrong season can leave the babies orphaned. All of them are saying the same thing: do not think about trapping first; if you are unsure, call RAPP to ask.

A pile of raccoon droppings in the yard. Raccoons have a habit of always going to the toilet in the same place, called a "raccoon latrine." These are often at the base of trees, on logs, rocks and woodpiles, on patios and decks, and even on roofs and in attics and garages. BCCDC says many raccoons carry a type of roundworm in their intestines (called raccoon roundworm); the eggs pass out in the droppings and, after two to four weeks outside, can make people sick, and they can survive in soil for years. Young children are at the highest risk because they like to put their hands and things in their mouths. The illness is rare but can be severe, even fatal.

BCCDC's cleanup method:

• Wear gloves, and also a mask, so that eggs on your hands do not accidentally get into your mouth; do not let the droppings get on your clothes.
• Put the droppings in two bags and throw them in the garbage, or bury them.
• For soiled areas on decks and patios, pour boiling water over them. BCCDC states that other disinfectants do not work on these eggs, so you cannot simply use the method for cleaning up rodent droppings.
• After taking off your gloves, wash your hands with soap and water.
• Cover children's sandboxes so they do not become raccoon latrines.
• If a child or family member has touched raccoon droppings and may have got some in their mouth, see a doctor and tell the doctor about the contact with raccoon droppings.

An injured raccoon, or a baby raccoon without its mother. Do not raise it yourself; doing so is illegal and may harm it. Call Wild ARC at 1-855-622-7722; photos or videos help.

Is it illegal to feed raccoons? The City of Victoria, Oak Bay and Esquimalt all prohibit feeding raccoons; for the fines, see section 12.

6. Deer: opening the door in the morning to find a deer eating flowers in the garden

Usually there is no need to call anyone. If a deer is eating grass and flowers in the yard, keep people and dogs indoors and wait for it to leave. WildSafeBC says deer are wild animals: do not feed them, and do not go close to them.

Two seasons to be especially careful.

• Late spring and early summer, when mother deer protect their fawns. Fawns are usually born in late May or June. Mother deer (does) are very protective of their fawns and have attacked people and dogs.
• The fall rut, when bucks can be confrontational. The rut usually peaks in mid-November, so be especially careful every November. Bucks' necks swell, and they rub their antlers on bushes.
• To a deer, a dog looks like a predator; even a dog on a leash can provoke it.

Signs a deer is about to charge. WildSafeBC says that when a deer lays its ears back and lowers its head, it is about to charge. When this happens:

• Do not look it in the eye; speak quietly and back away slowly.
• If there is a tree or something else solid nearby, get behind it.
• If you have bear spray, you can also use it on a deer that comes too close.
• If a deer does knock into you, try to stay on your feet, protect your head with your arms, and move toward somewhere you can take cover.

If you are worried about safety, or deer in your neighbourhood are no longer afraid of people or dogs, report it to the Conservation Officer Service's RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.

A fawn lying in the grass with no adult deer nearby. This is most likely normal. The BC SPCA says the mother comes back only a few times a day to nurse, and the rest of the time the fawn hides quietly. WildSafeBC says: do not go near it, and leave quickly, because if the mother senses people are there, she may not come back. Victoria Animal Control Services says: watch from a distance, and call Wild ARC only once you are sure the mother has not come back to nurse for 12 to 18 hours; WildSafeBC says that if you think the fawn really has been abandoned, call the conservation officer line. Capturing or transporting a deer without a permit is illegal; do not take a fawn home. Only if the fawn looks injured, or the mother nearby has been confirmed dead, does it need help.

Keeping deer out of your yard. WildSafeBC suggests:

• Scare them off with things that move or make noise, such as motion-activated lights and sprinklers; but do not deliberately hurt them, as harming deer is illegal.
• Fencing: wire mesh or woven fencing at least 2.5 m high on flat ground, with the wire pulled tight so deer do not get tangled; a solid wooden fence that deer cannot see through only needs to be 1.5 m high, because deer are reluctant to jump into a place they cannot see. Do not use barbed wire or wrought-iron fencing with pointed tops; they injure deer and do not keep them out. Check your municipality's bylaws before putting up a new fence.
• Cedar is a particular favourite of urban deer. If you want plants that deer do not like, see the plant lists from Master Gardeners of BC.
• Pick up fallen fruit, and prune fruit tree branches so deer cannot reach them.

Is it illegal to feed deer? The City of Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay and Esquimalt all prohibit feeding deer (section 12). WildSafeBC also says that giving deer tasty food in winter can actually make them sick or even kill them.

Hitting a deer with your car, or deer on the road. WildSafeBC says deer often cross roads early in the morning, at dusk and in the evening; be especially alert on stretches of road with wildlife warning signs.

• If anyone is hurt, call 911.
• If an injured deer is lying on the road: the BC SPCA says to call the local police or the Conservation Officer Service's RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277; the Province of B.C. says that if you are worried about an injured large animal, do not move it, and call RAPP. Victoria Animal Control Services says conservation officers respond only when the deer is down on the ground and cannot get up. Do not walk over to check on it yourself.
• If a deer is dead on the road: the Province of B.C. says to report it to your municipality's Public Works, road maintenance or animal control so it can be removed. In the City of Victoria, call the Public Works 24-hour line at 250-361-0400. If it died in your own yard, you may have to deal with it yourself; ask your municipality first.

A deer that looks sick. In 2024, chronic wasting disease (CWD, an infectious disease of deer) was found in B.C. for the first time. If you see a deer that is very thin, unsteady on its feet or acting strangely, call RAPP at 1-877-952-7277 or the B.C. Wildlife Health Program at 250-751-7246.

7. Black bears, cougars and wolves: large animals at your door

These three, plus the coyote, which does not live on Vancouver Island, make four species that the B.C. Wildlife Act calls "dangerous wildlife." WildSafeBC says that aggressive bears, and bears that show up in urban areas, should all be reported to the Conservation Officer Service; cougars that show up in urban areas, come into conflict with people, behave unusually or are aggressive should also be reported. The number for all of them is RAPP, 1-877-952-7277. If people are in danger, call 911.

Black bears

If you see a bear from inside the house. Stay inside. From the safe side, close the outside doors and any windows within reach; do not go out to bring in the garbage or to chase it away. If the bear is at your door, in the garage or has climbed onto a balcony, do not stand between it and the exit. The Province of B.C. says: bring pets inside; watch the bear until it leaves, and give it a clear way out; once the bear has gone and it is safe, clear away anything in the yard that attracts bears. If a bear is trying to get into a house where people are, has already got in, or has someone cornered, people should retreat to a room with a door or leave through another safe exit, and call 911.

Suddenly meeting a bear outdoors. The Province of B.C. says: stay calm, do not run, and do not climb a tree; talk to the bear in a calm, low voice and back away slowly; do not scream, do not turn your back on it, do not kneel, and do not look it in the eye; if you are in a group, stay close together and pick up small children.

WildSafeBC describes what to do depending on how the bear is acting:

• The bear has not noticed you: quietly go back the way you came, keeping your eyes on the bear.
• The bear has noticed you but is not reacting: speak quietly and back away slowly; if the bear leaves, let it go and do not follow it.
• The bear is agitated: smacking its lips, huffing, slapping the ground or bluff charging, which means it thinks you are too close. Speak quietly and back away slowly; do not look it in the eye, but do not let it out of your sight; if you have bear spray, get it out.
• The bear keeps coming toward you: first, slowly move out of its way, since it may just want to use this path; if it keeps approaching, this is very dangerous, as it may be treating you as prey. Shout at it, move to higher ground, and be ready to fight for your life.

If a bear attacks. It depends on the kind of attack:

• Defensive: usually when someone surprises a bear, and the bear is protecting itself, its food or its cubs. WildSafeBC says that if you are knocked down in a defensive attack, it is best to lie on your stomach and stay still, with your hands clasped over the back of your head and your legs slightly apart so you are harder to roll over; once the bear is sure you are not a threat, it will stop; get up only after you are sure the bear has left.
• Predatory: the attack keeps going and the bear intends to eat you. In this case, fight back with everything you have, hitting its face, eyes and nose.

Bear spray. The Province of B.C. says to use it when a bear is too close (within 7 m); WildSafeBC says to spray when the bear charges to within 5 to 10 m. Carry it on you where you can grab it, not in your backpack.

When bears are active. WildSafeBC says black bears usually hibernate in their dens from December to April and are most active from April to November; in places where winters are mild and food is always available, bears may not hibernate. In the fall, bears eat as much as they can to fatten up, taking in about 20,000 calories a day.

WildSafeBC says that among bear calls to conservation officers where an attractant was identified, 60% involved garbage. So securing your garbage matters most (covered at the end of this section).

Cougars

If you are inside, stay inside. If you meet one up close, the Province of B.C. says:

• Stay calm, keep your eyes on it, and pick up children right away. Children are easily frightened, and their screaming and sudden movements may cause it to pounce.
• Back away slowly, leaving it a way to escape.
• Make yourself look as big as possible, and keep facing it. Never run, and never turn around; sudden movements may cause it to pounce.
• If it shows interest in you or follows you, become aggressive: stare at it, show your teeth, shout loudly, and pick up rocks or branches as weapons. WildSafeBC specifically says not to crouch down when picking things up.
• If it attacks, fight back with everything you have to show it you are not prey; hit its face and eyes; rocks, branches, bear spray and whatever you are carrying can all be used. WildSafeBC says: always fight back, and never play dead.

WildSafeBC also says: cougars hunt mainly at dawn and dusk; more deer in town can also draw cougars into residential areas; children are at the highest risk when a cougar is encountered, so if you live where cougars are seen, teach your children what to do in advance. If you see the remains of its prey (for example, half of a dead deer), leave right away and report it to the Conservation Officer Service.

Wolves

The Province of B.C. says it is not normal for wolves and coyotes to attack or chase people, especially adults; they usually become aggressive because they have been fed by people, directly or indirectly, and have become used to people.

• If you see a wolf in town or in the countryside, first keep children inside until it leaves, or pick the children up. It is most likely just passing through.
• If a wolf comes toward you: make yourself look tall, and stand up if you are sitting; wave your arms and throw things at it; shout at it in a loud, aggressive voice. If it keeps coming, do not run or turn around; keep doing this and back away slowly to a safe place.
• WildSafeBC says that when you meet a wolf, do not just watch it or take photos; scare it away.
• If a wolf or coyote is a direct threat to people, call RAPP.

Securing what attracts them: this is required by law

Section 33.1 of the B.C. Wildlife Act (what it means):

• You must not intentionally feed, or try to feed, dangerous wildlife (bears, cougars, coyotes, wolves);
• You must not intentionally put, leave or place an attractant in order to attract dangerous wildlife;
• In a place where people are or are likely to be, you must not leave an attractant in a way that could attract dangerous wildlife and that dangerous wildlife can get to.

What "attractant" means. The law says: food, food waste, compost, other waste or garbage that could attract dangerous wildlife; and the carcasses or meat of animals or fish. For owners, tenants and occupants, "leave" also includes not removing an attractant and letting it sit there.

The fines.

• Since June 18, 2024, the ticket for intentionally feeding dangerous wildlife is $575 (a $500 fine plus a $75 victim surcharge); the ticket for intentionally placing an attractant to attract them is also $575; leaving an attractant lying around where people are carries a ticket of $460 (a $400 fine plus $60).
• If convicted in court, for intentional feeding or intentional attracting, a first offence can bring a fine of up to $100,000 or one year in prison, or both; for leaving an attractant lying around, a first offence can bring a fine of up to $50,000 or six months in prison. Each additional day can be treated as a new offence and fined separately.
• If an attractant is not inside a dwelling (for example, in a yard, a shed or a vacant lot) and a conservation officer believes it will attract dangerous wildlife and put people's safety at risk, the officer can issue a "dangerous wildlife protection order" requiring the owner, occupant or person in charge to secure or remove the attractant by a set deadline; not complying is also an offence.

Saanich's website still says the fine is $230; that is an old amount. The amounts above are those in the 2024 regulation.

How to secure attractants. Putting together the advice of Saanich, the Province of B.C. and WildSafeBC:

• Keep garbage, food scraps and recycling in a shed or garage, and put them out only on the morning of collection day, not the night before; night is when bears are most active.
• Freeze meat and smelly food scraps first and put them in the green bin on collection day. Wash bins regularly.
• Pick fruit and berries as soon as they ripen, and pick up what falls on the ground; you can protect them with an electric fence.
• Feed pets indoors and bring bowls and leftovers in right away.
• After each use of a barbecue, turn the heat up high to burn off residue, scrub the grill clean and empty the grease tray.
• Hang bird feeders only in winter, when bears are hibernating; one kilogram of sunflower seeds has about 8,000 calories, which is a feast for a bear, and seeds that fall on the ground also attract rats.
• If you keep chickens, bees or small livestock, use a properly installed and maintained electric fence, shut the chickens in at night and lock up the feed.
• If you see someone feeding bears or intentionally attracting dangerous wildlife, you can report it to RAPP.

Related: for how to prepare before going into the mountains or the backcountry, see Guide No. 22, Lost outdoors: prevention and survival; Guide No. 20, Staying safe and getting help, also has a section on animals (section 12, "Injured or dead animals: first work out who to contact").

8. Rats, mice and droppings: a pile of small black pellets behind the kitchen cupboards

Rats in B.C. WildSafeBC says B.C. has two kinds of large rats: the Norway rat and the roof rat. Norway rat droppings are dark, rounded at both ends, and about 15 to 20 mm long.

First, cut off their food and block their way in. Store rice, flour, birdseed and pet food in sturdy containers with tight lids. City of Victoria bylaws also require that animal feed kept outdoors be stored in fully enclosed containers that keep out rats and raccoons. Seeds dropped under bird feeders attract rats. Check under doors, where pipes and wires go through walls, and cracks in the foundation.

Choosing how to catch rats. The BC SPCA says:

• Do not use glue traps; animals suffer a great deal, and they often catch small birds, other small animals and even pets.
• Do not use multi-catch traps that cannot be opened once animals are inside.
• Snap traps kill quickly, but they can also injure wildlife and pets, so be careful where you place them.
• Since 2021, B.C. has banned the sale and use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) in homes and non-essential commercial settings. Rodenticides make rats die slowly and painfully, and owls, hawks and even cats that eat poisoned rats can be poisoned too.

Cleaning up droppings: do not sweep or vacuum. HealthLink BC says that in Canada, hantavirus (a virus that can cause serious lung illness in people) has only been found in wild deer mice; house mice, roof rats and Norway rats are not currently known to spread it. If you cannot tell which kind of rodent left the droppings, clean them up the way it describes:

1. In an enclosed space, air it out for 30 minutes before going in.
2. Wear a suitable mask (an N95, or a specialized filter mask such as an N100 or P100; ordinary dust masks used for renovations are not enough), rubber gloves and eye protection.
3. Prepare a disinfectant: most ordinary disinfectants and household cleaners work, or you can mix 1 part bleach with 9 parts water.
4. Slowly pour the disinfectant over the droppings and nests, without using a spray bottle, and let it soak for 10 minutes.
5. Wipe it up with paper towels and put them in a plastic bag; do not sweep, and do not use a vacuum cleaner.
6. Seal everything in two bags and throw it away following your municipality's rules.
7. Wash carpets; wash clothes and bedding in hot water; disinfect floors, counters, cupboards and drawers that rodents have touched.
8. Wash your rubber gloves with disinfectant or soapy water before taking them off, then wash your hands with soap.

Symptoms of hantavirus usually appear two to three weeks after exposure. If you have a fever, muscle aches or trouble breathing after cleaning up, see a doctor and tell them you cleaned up rodent droppings.

9. Other regular visitors in the yard and on the beach: small birds, geese, squirrels, rabbits and seals

Small birds

A baby bird with no feathers on the ground. The BC SPCA says: nestlings that have no feathers, or are not fully feathered, should be in the nest. If it is not injured, you can put it back in the nest, which is usually in a nearby tree or bush. Birds have a poor sense of smell and will not abandon a baby because a person has touched it. Make sure you put it back in its own nest.

A young bird hopping on the ground in spring or summer, unable to fly. This is most likely a fledgling learning to fly; its parents are nearby, watching over it and feeding it. Keep cats and dogs indoors or on a leash and leave it alone; it usually does not need rescuing.

A bird that has hit a window. The BC SPCA says: even if it can move afterwards, do not let it go, because birds that hit windows often have internal injuries. Put it in a box as described in section 13 and take it to Wild ARC, calling before you go.

A cat has caught a bird. Bacteria in a cat's mouth can kill a bird; even if no injury can be seen, it needs treatment with special antibiotics. Put it in a box and call Wild ARC.

A healthy bird flies into the living room. The Canadian Wildlife Federation has a page specifically about this, but we were not able to read it this time, so this guide does not give specific steps. If you are unsure, call Wild ARC at 1-855-622-7722 to ask.

A bird's nest on the porch or balcony. Section 34 of the B.C. Wildlife Act says:

• You must not take, injure, harass or destroy wild birds or their eggs;
• You must not disturb the nests of eagles, peregrine falcons, gyrfalcons, ospreys, herons or burrowing owls;
• You must not disturb the nests of other birds while they contain birds or eggs.

The federal Migratory Birds Regulations, 2022 (in force since July 30, 2022) also say that a migratory bird nest must not be destroyed or moved while it contains a live bird or a viable egg; the nests of 18 species of migratory birds are protected all year round and only count as abandoned after they have been empty for the required time (12, 24 or 36 months). So if you find a nest, do not remove it; wait until the young birds have flown away; if you cannot tell what kind of bird it is, ask first. Taking, injuring, harassing or destroying a wild bird or its eggs, disturbing the nests of the six species above such as eagles, or disturbing a nest that contains birds or eggs all carry a $575 ticket. The provincial regulation makes exceptions for a small number of bird species; if you cannot tell what kind of bird it is, treat it as protected.

A dead wild bird. Do not pick it up with your hands, and keep cats, dogs and backyard chickens and ducks away from it. Call the B.C. wild bird mortality investigation line at 1-866-431-2473 (1-866-431-BIRD), 24 hours a day. The Province of B.C. also notes that dead birds near a bird feeder should be reported to this number too; salmonellosis in birds can spread to people, so avoid touching sick or dead birds as much as possible.

Canada geese, pigeons, crows and gulls

Geese defend their nests when they are sitting on eggs or have goslings, stretching out their necks and hissing. Face the goose and back away slowly, use a different door, and do not walk between the adult geese and the goslings (this is general practice; we did not find it stated on an official web page). If there are eggs in the nest, under section 34 above, you must not disturb it.

The City of Victoria prohibits feeding pigeons, crows and gulls in the downtown area (north to Bay St, east to Cook St, south to Superior St, and west to the Inner and Upper Harbours); Esquimalt prohibits feeding Canada geese (section 12).

Squirrels and rabbits

The City of Victoria prohibits feeding squirrels and wild rabbits; Saanich prohibits feeding wild rabbits in public places such as parks, roads, universities and schools.

Check the grass before you mow. The BC SPCA says wild eastern cottontails make their nests in shallow hollows in the grass, where the young are easily hurt by lawn mowers, dogs and roaming cats. Mother rabbits normally leave their babies in the nest for long periods, so not seeing the mother does not mean the babies have been abandoned. Do not take baby rabbits home. If a baby rabbit is injured, or you are sure the mother is dead, call Wild ARC to ask.

Seals on the beach

A seal pup lying on the sand or on rocks. The BC SPCA and Fisheries and Oceans Canada both say that seals spend about a third of their time on shore, and mothers leave their pups on the shore while they go fishing, so a pup on its own has not necessarily been abandoned.

• Keep your dog on a leash, stay well back, and encourage others not to go close either. Seals on shore are easily startled, and when they panic they can bite hard.
• Do not touch, move or feed it, do not pour water on it (it has often come ashore to dry off), and do not push it back into the sea.
• The federal Marine Mammal Regulations prohibit disturbing marine mammals; feeding, touching or moving them, or separating them from others, all count.
• If the pup looks injured, very thin or listless, or keeps sleeping, call the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre at 1-604-258-7325, or Wild ARC at 1-855-622-7722, to ask.
• If you see someone disturbing a seal, or there is a dead seal, sea lion or whale on the shore, call Fisheries and Oceans Canada at 1-800-465-4336.

10. Wasps and ticks

Wasps

If you are stung. Health Canada says that, unlike bees, wasps can sting more than once. If a wasp lands on you, do not swat at it; stay calm and wait for it to fly away, or gently brush it off. If you are stung, you can apply an ice pack or a paste of baking soda. If you have unusual swelling, itching, dizziness or trouble breathing, get medical help right away; a very small number of people have severe allergic reactions, which can even be fatal. In life-threatening situations such as trouble breathing or a tight throat, call 911.

A wasp nest under the eaves or inside a wall. Health Canada says that if the nest is not in the way and is not a health risk, it is best to leave it until November or December, when the wasps have left, and then take it down; removing and throwing away an empty nest carries little risk. Homeowners who wear proper protection can remove a nest themselves, but it is recommended to have a professional do it (for how to choose a company, see section 13). If a nest that still has wasps in it must be removed, do it in the evening, when wasps are least active. In addition, as general common sense, if the nest is by a door or where children play, or someone in your home has a severe allergy to stings, it is best not to deal with it yourself.

Ticks

After coming back from grassy or wooded areas, check yourself, your children and your pets for ticks. The Public Health Agency of Canada's way to remove a tick:

1. Using clean, fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick's head as close to the skin as possible.
2. Pull it out slowly and straight; do not twist it, and do not squeeze its body.
3. If the mouthparts break off in the skin, remove them with the tweezers; if you cannot, do not dig at them; let the skin heal on its own.
4. Wash the bite area with soap and water, or with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
5. You can take a photo and upload it to the eTick website to help identify the tick.

The Public Health Agency of Canada says that if you are worried after a tick bite, feel unwell, or develop symptoms of Lyme disease (a bacterial illness spread by ticks), you should see a doctor as soon as possible; the doctor may consider preventive treatment, and the tick does not necessarily have to be tested first. If you want to bring the tick to show your doctor, put it in a sealable plastic bag or pill bottle, and write down the date you were bitten, where on your body you were bitten, and the city where it happened. If you are not keeping the tick, kill it first by putting it in rubbing alcohol or freezing it for a few days, then throw it in your household garbage; do not crush it with your fingers. If you are unsure, call 8-1-1.

11. If someone is bitten or scratched, or a cat or dog has had contact with a wild animal

If a person is bitten or scratched

Life comes first. If someone is bleeding heavily, cannot breathe, has passed out or is badly hurt, call 911 right away and follow the call-taker's instructions.

If there is no danger to life:

1. Wash it right away. Clean the wound with soap and water, then rinse it with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes (as the Public Health Agency of Canada and HealthLink BC advise). If a bat has touched the skin, wash it even if you cannot see a wound.
2. See a doctor or call public health right away. In Victoria, call Island Health's communicable disease team at 250-388-2225 (toll-free 1-866-665-6626); if you are unsure, call 8-1-1.
3. Tell the doctor: what animal it was and what it looked like; where and when it happened; where you were hurt; whether the animal can still be found; and whether you have had a rabies vaccine before.

Do not wait for symptoms, and do not skip it because several days have passed. HealthLink BC says rabies symptoms usually start 3 to 8 weeks after exposure, or sometimes later; the shots that prevent it (usually rabies immune globulin plus rabies vaccine) only work if given before symptoms start. Even if a long time has passed, contact public health or a doctor and let them decide whether you need the shots.

See a doctor even if the animal has run away. Even a wound that does not involve rabies can become infected with bacteria. If the wound gets redder, more swollen, warmer or more painful, oozes pus, or you develop a fever, go back to the doctor.

If you are bitten in another province or country. HealthLink BC says that if you are bitten or attacked by any animal outside B.C., ask a doctor right away whether you need rabies shots, and ask again when you get back to B.C., even if some time has passed. If you got shots in another country, bring the information on the products used and copies of the labels back to show your B.C. doctor.

If a cat or dog has had contact with a wild animal

• If your cat or dog has had a bat in its mouth, swatted a bat, or may have touched a bat: contact your veterinarian right away. HealthLink BC and WildSafeBC both say so.
• Vaccinate cats and dogs against rabies, and keep their boosters up to date. HealthLink BC says cats, dogs and ferrets should all be vaccinated; even indoor-only cats should be vaccinated, because they may get outside, or come across a bat inside the house.
• Do not put your hands between fighting animals. If a pet is bitten or scratched by a raccoon, take it to a veterinarian.
• WildSafeBC says one study found that more than half of black bear attacks on people involved a dog; to a bear, a dog may look like a threat or like prey. In areas where bears or cougars are seen, keep dogs on a leash.
• If a person was also bitten, or came into contact with the animal's saliva, that person should see a doctor separately.

Related: for what to sort out before getting a pet (your lease, your budget, a dog licence) and taking pets into or out of Canada, see Guide No. 10, Pets; if you have an older dog, for how to walk it and when to go to the emergency hospital right away, see Guide No. 25, Caring for a senior dog.

12. Is it illegal to feed wildlife? Provincial law and local rules in the Victoria area

Provincial law: Across B.C., you must not feed or intentionally attract the four kinds of dangerous wildlife (bears, cougars, coyotes and wolves), and you must not leave attractants lying around; for the fines, see section 7.

Local rules: Each municipality's own bylaws also cover deer, raccoons, squirrels, rabbits, birds and other animals. Here is the Victoria area:

What counts as "feeding." Saanich's bylaw states that putting food where you know, or should know, it will attract these animals also counts as feeding. Victoria Animal Control Services says that scattering birdseed, peanuts, cat food, bread, rice or fruit on the ground counts as feeding wildlife, whether or not you only meant to feed birds; people who deliberately feed birds this way will get a ticket after one warning. Feeding songbirds from a hanging bird feeder, or hummingbirds from a hummingbird feeder, is generally fine.

The City of Victoria also requires: animal feed kept outdoors must be stored in fully enclosed containers that keep out rats and raccoons.

Reporting a neighbour who feeds raccoons or deer. In Victoria, Oak Bay and Esquimalt, call Victoria Animal Control Services at 250-414-0233. Saanich's bylaw states that the people who enforce its animals bylaw include Capital Regional District (CRD) enforcement officers; for the specific phone number, check the District of Saanich website. If someone is feeding bears or intentionally attracting dangerous wildlife, call RAPP at 1-877-952-7277.

13. After the animal leaves: keeping it from coming back, hiring help, and what to do if you rent

First make sure everything has left, then seal the openings. Clean up, check for damage and seal holes only after the animal and its young have all left. For the baby seasons of raccoons and bats, see sections 4 and 5; sealing too early will trap the young inside to die. If there is an animal in a garage, basement or apartment hallway, keep the doors leading into your home closed, and do not drive it toward stairwells, elevators or neighbours' doors; tell the property manager or landlord which floor and where. If there is an animal under your car or in the engine compartment, do not start the car yet.

If there is an injured small animal in your yard, how to put it in a box. The BC SPCA says (call Wild ARC at 1-855-622-7722 to ask before you do this; do not try to catch large birds or adult mammals yourself):

1. Find a sturdy cardboard box with a lid, or a pet carrier, poke a few air holes with a pen, and put a towel on the bottom. The box only needs to be big enough for the animal to stand up and turn around; if it is too big, the animal will flap around and hurt itself.
2. Cover the animal with another towel or a jacket, including its head and eyes; this makes it safer for you and calmer for the animal.
3. Gently pick it up and put it in the box, pulling out the covering towel as you close the lid.
4. Put another towel over the outside of the box and place it somewhere warm, quiet and dark, such as a closet or bathroom, away from pets and noise.
5. Do not give it food or water unless the rehabilitation staff tell you to; do not talk to it, touch it or peek at it.
6. Take it in as soon as possible; in the car, the animal must stay in the box.

The BC SPCA states that it is illegal to care for injured or orphaned wildlife yourself. The Province of B.C. also states that keeping live or dead wildlife without a permit is illegal.

If there is a dead small animal in your yard. The BC SPCA and the Province of B.C. say: do not touch it with your bare hands; wear disposable gloves or use a tool or a garbage bag; do not put it in the green food scraps bin or in compost. In Victoria, two official sources say different things: the City's garbage page says the grey garbage bin does not take dead animals (including roadkill, wildlife and pets); Victoria Animal Control Services' page says that dead small birds and dead rodents on private property in Victoria and Esquimalt can be bagged and put in household garbage, that dead raccoons and deer should not go in the garbage and you should call the CRD landfill at 250-727-3331 to ask how to deal with them, and that the District of Oak Bay will remove dead raccoons and deer from public places and private property free of charge. Before throwing anything out, City of Victoria residents can call the Public Works 24-hour line at 250-361-0400 to check; in other municipalities, ask your own municipality first. For a large animal that died in your own yard, you may need to find a removal company yourself. If several animals have died in the same place and you suspect disease, call 1-866-431-2473 for dead birds, and the B.C. Wildlife Health Program at 250-751-7246 for other animals.

Hiring someone: what kind of company to look for. There are two situations:

• Work that uses pesticides (rodent or insect control): B.C.'s Integrated Pest Management Regulation says that a company that charges to come and provide a service using pesticides generally needs a pesticide user service licence issued by the Province, and to apply for the licence it must have certified pesticide applicators (the regulation makes exceptions for some situations, such as using only a small number of low-risk products). Before hiring someone, you can ask: "Do you have a BC pesticide licence? What's the number?" We did not find a place on the Province's web pages where the public can look up licence numbers; if you are unsure, you can check against the BC SPCA's accredited list below, or ask the Province's pest management office.
• Dealing with raccoons, bats and other animals without pesticides: we could not confirm that the Province has a specific "animal removal licence." The BC SPCA recommends its AnimalKind-accredited companies; the list is on its website.

The BC SPCA suggests asking these questions before hiring someone:

1. "Do you trap and relocate wildlife?" Good companies mainly get animals out and seal the openings; if they really have to trap an animal, they release it within its original home range, and in the baby season they reunite the young with their mother.
2. "Do you use non-lethal techniques?"
3. "If you kill rodents, what techniques do you use?" Do not hire a company that uses glue traps or multi-catch traps that cannot be opened.
4. "What's in the box?" Some bait boxes contain a snap trap, some a glue board, and some poison.

What not to do yourself: do not use poison on raccoons (it is illegal); do not use glue traps; do not harm or harass bats; do not seal bat holes in summer; do not capture or transport deer without a permit; do not put live animals in your car and take them to a park to release them (on Vancouver Island, a raccoon must not be released more than 1 km from where it was trapped).

Keeping animals from coming back. Do what sections 5 and 7 describe: keep garbage bins in a shed or garage and put them out only on the morning of collection day; seal up food scraps, compost and animal feed; pick up fallen fruit; feed pets indoors, keep cats and dogs inside at night and lock the pet door; shut chickens and rabbits in a locked coop or hutch at night; repair gaps in the eaves, vents, window screens and foundation, and block the openings into sheds, garages, crawl spaces and attics. BCCDC also suggests clearing away brush piles and clutter in the yard where raccoons could make a den.

If you rent. If an animal gets into the home or damages something, tell your landlord first, preferably in writing (a text message or email), giving the date and location and attaching photos; for common areas in an apartment building, tell the property manager. Keep the photos, dates and repair quotes.

Related: for rental deposits and dealing with the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB), see Guide No. 3, Housing.

14. English to use on the phone

Say first whether you need an interpreter, then where you are, then what the danger is. In an apartment, give your unit number and floor; outside town, give the nearest road name, intersection or your location coordinates.

• "I need a Mandarin interpreter." Use this to ask for an interpreter. (If you speak Cantonese, say Cantonese instead.)
• "My address is ____." Gives your address.
• "A bear is trying to get into my house. We are inside." Says a bear is trying to get in and that you are indoors.
• "Someone is injured. / Someone is trapped." Says that someone is hurt, or that someone cannot get out.
• "There's a cougar in my backyard right now. Nobody is hurt." Reports a cougar in your backyard and that nobody has been hurt.
• "A deer is charging at people and dogs on my street." Reports a deer that is charging at people and dogs.
• "There was a bat in my child's bedroom. I don't know if it touched them." Tells a doctor or public health that a bat was in your child's room and you do not know whether it touched your child.
• "I was bitten by a raccoon about an hour ago. I washed the wound." Says when you were bitten and that you have already washed the wound.
• "My dog had a bat in its mouth. Its last rabies shot was ____." Tells your veterinarian about the bat and when your dog last had a rabies shot.
• "I found an injured bird. Can I bring it to Wild ARC?" Asks whether you can bring an injured bird to Wild ARC.
• "There's a fawn alone in my yard. It doesn't look hurt." Reports a fawn on its own in your yard, with no adult deer nearby, that does not look injured.

Finally: a checklist

• Get people inside, bring cats and dogs in, and close the doors; do not go near an animal to take photos or bring in the garbage.
• Someone is attacked, hurt or trapped, or a bear, cougar or wolf is trying to get into a house where people are: 911.
• A bear, cougar or wolf in a residential area, a deer chasing people or dogs, an injured large animal on the road: RAPP 1-877-952-7277.
• Injured, sick or orphaned small animals and birds: BC SPCA Animal Helpline 1-855-622-7722 (every day, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; in the Victoria area, calls are handled by Wild ARC); call before you bring the animal in. For injured deer and bears, call RAPP.
• Bats: the key is whether anyone has touched it. If someone may have, wash for 15 minutes, do not let the bat go, and see a doctor right away (on Vancouver Island, you can also call Island Health at 250-388-2225); if you are sure nobody touched it, close the door, open the window and wait for it to fly out.
• Bitten or scratched: wash with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and see a doctor right away; ask about it even if you were bitten in another province or country.
• A cat or dog has touched a bat: contact a veterinarian right away; vaccinate cats and dogs (including indoor-only cats) against rabies.
• Do not seal holes during the baby season for raccoons and bats: deal with raccoons before March or after August if possible; never seal out bats in summer, fall is best in Victoria, and if you are unsure about early September or April, call 1-855-922-2287 first. On Vancouver Island, a trapped raccoon must not be taken more than 1 km away to be released.
• Raccoon droppings: wear gloves and a mask, double-bag them and throw them out, and pour boiling water over the area; other disinfectants do not work.
• Rodent droppings: air the space out for 30 minutes first, pour disinfectant over them and let it soak for 10 minutes; do not sweep or vacuum.
• Keep garbage bins in a shed or garage and put them out only on the morning of collection day (in Victoria, before 7 a.m.); freeze meat and smelly food scraps first.
• Do not feed bears, cougars, coyotes or wolves (a $575 ticket); Victoria, Saanich, Oak Bay and Esquimalt also prohibit feeding deer, and Victoria, Oak Bay and Esquimalt also prohibit feeding raccoons; for which other animals each municipality covers, see section 12.
• If you hire someone to use pesticides for rodent or insect control, ask for their B.C. pesticide licence number; for raccoons and bats, look at the BC SPCA's AnimalKind list first.

Related guides

• → No. 20 · Staying safe and getting help
  Who to contact when an animal is injured or dead (section 12): injured deer on the road, the phone numbers each municipality uses for removing dead animals, and calling first before taking in an injured small animal; it also explains how to give your location clearly once you get through to 911 (section 2).
• → No. 20 companion sheet · Emergency phone sheet
  Emergency numbers on one page: 911, poison control, gas, power outages, crisis support, 811 and 211, plus marine distress, getting lost outdoors, injured deer and dangerous wildlife, small wild animals, dead animals on roads, and help with pets.
• → No. 22 · Lost outdoors: prevention and survival
  How to choose a route, check the weather and leave your trip plan with someone before heading into the backcountry, and how to call for help and wait for rescue if you get lost; section 12 covers food, water and wild animals.
• → No. 10 · Pets
  What to check before getting a pet (your lease and your budget), dog licences, bringing pets into or out of Canada and flying with them, and saying goodbye at the end.
• → No. 25 · Caring for a senior dog
  When a dog counts as old, how to adjust your home and how to feed and walk an older dog, when to go to the emergency hospital right away, and pet hospitals and first aid for dogs in Victoria.
• → No. 3 · Housing
  Rental deposits and the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) in B.C., how to apply for subsidized housing and the RAP and SAFER rent subsidies, and the costs to work out when buying a home.

Main official links in this guide

These are the official pages used most in this guide. The web pages and bylaw texts of the Province of B.C., BC Laws, WildSafeBC, the BC SPCA, HealthLink BC, the BCCDC, Island Health, federal government departments, E-Comm, the BC Community Bat Program, Victoria Animal Control Services, the City of Victoria and the District of Saanich were all opened and read on November 3, 2026. There are a few things we could not check: for the feeding bylaws and fines of Oak Bay and Esquimalt, we could not check the bylaw texts, so this guide only uses what the Victoria Animal Control Services website says; the Canadian Wildlife Federation's pages could not be read, so this guide does not give specific steps for a bird that flies into the house; for how to back away from a Canada goose defending its nest, we did not find this stated on an official web page, so this guide describes general practice; we could not confirm the office hours of Island Health's communicable disease team, whether RAPP and Wild ARC offer Chinese interpretation, or the phone number of the CRD enforcement officers who enforce Saanich's animals bylaw; and we could not confirm whether the Province has a specific "animal removal licence." Other links are at the end of each section.