During the tele-teaching and tele-working period, little human activity at the College meant wildlife reclaimed our landscape.

Foxes, groundhogs, raccoons and a host of birds have been visiting. Now that we have returned, it is great to see staff and students enjoying Nature. Several well-intentioned people, both staff and Dawson neighbours, have been asked to stop feeding the birds because of unintentional consequences we would like to share with you:

• Feeding bread, muffins or other baked goods fills birds’ stomachs, but has little nutritional value and can lead to health problems for the bird. Young birds especially are affected.

• Gulls and squirrels eat most foods given by humans and then boldly take food from people sitting at tables outside when they can’t find any elsewhere. Squirrels enter backpacks for food and gulls swoop down and take open food from the tables.
• Feeding animals diminishes their foraging skills and can lead to larger litters of babies
• Wild animals can lose their natural fear of humans and become a nuisance or dangerous to humans
• Rats and mice come to eat leftover food at night. We do not want to attract these animals to the landscape. The squirrel population on campus is also high and they do significant damage to the gardens and they even chew on rubber or plastic on cars in the parking areas! We do not want to attract more!
• Peanut shells that are left throughout the landscape are a serious hazard to the members of the Dawson Community who live with severe allergies and would like to benefit from our outdoor spaces.

• Feeding wild animals is illegal in Westmount and offenders can receive a first fine of $50 and subsequent fines of $100