When you report a wildlife concern, a Renewable Resource Officer will ask you for your name, phone number, and details about the animal: its location, species, and behavior. The officer will then classify the situation using a "stoplight" system:

Classification Levels:

- Green: The animal is in a natural setting and poses no immediate threat to people or property.

   Example: An animal seen in its habitat that moves away as people approach.

- Yellow: The animal’s behavior may pose a potential risk to public safety or property, but it has not made direct contact with people.

  Examples:

• An animal lingering beside a road, not moving away as people or cars approach.
• An animal stays in a public area but not causing immediate trouble.

- Red: The animal has come in direct contact with a person, or poses an imminent threat to the safety of people or property. 

   Examples:

• A person feeds an animal.
• An animal comes in direct contact with a person.
• An animal is in a public area where it poses an immediate threat to people.

After determining if the situation is Yellow or Red (suggesting a potential threat), the officer will decide on the most appropriate response.

Response Actions:

- Green Actions: Officers may observe the animal and encourage people to take precautionary measures, such as leaving the area quietly and ensuring no food, garbage, or other attractants remain.

- Yellow Actions: Officers consider various non-lethal methods to ensure public safety, which might include:

• Monitoring the animal’s behavior and maintaining a safe distance.
• Removing any attractants (such as food or garbage).
• Using deterrents (bear bangers, rubber bullets, or other loud noises) to encourage the animal to leave.
• Relocating the animal if it is not habituated to human presence.
• If these methods fail to ensure safety, lethal removal (dispatching the animal) may be considered as a last resort.

- Red Actions: immediate, ongoing threat or has already caused harm, more direct intervention may be necessary. This can include relocation or dispatching the animal to protect public safety.

How do Officers make these decisions?

Officers focus on the animal’s behavior: “What did the animal do?” By understanding the animal’s history, behavior, and current situation, they use the stoplight system to guide their response.

Important definitions

• Habituated: An animal that has lost its fear of people and approaches them or stays in or around human areas, causing safety concerns.
• Nuisance: An animal that seeks out human food or enters high-use areas like parks or campgrounds.
• Provoked vs. Unprovoked:
  • Provoked: The animal’s reaction was caused by human behavior (e.g., approaching its young or interfering with its food).
  • Unprovoked: The animal acted without any human action to cause it to do so.

Preventative measures Officers may use:

• Monitor the situation to track the animal’s behavior.
• Educate the public about wildlife safety and proper conduct around animals.

For more information on wildlife safety, click here.

Preventative measures you can take to lessen animal encounters:

• Remove anything that could attract animals. This could be garbage, food, or even gas cans!
• Use physical barriers (like fences) in areas prone to animal activity.
• Don’t clean fish or field dress animals near communities, cabins, or homes. Tightly seal the remains in plastic bags before disposal to reduce odors that may attract animals.
• Avoid planting berry bushes right by your home or harvest the berries as soon as they’re ready.
• Clean up litter and roadside garbage whenever possible to reduce attractants.

Remember:

Always prioritize safety and follow local guidelines when dealing with animal encounters. If you feel unsafe, contact your local ECC Office for assistance.