In a day when media is reaching out to people to try and be more proactive and avoid leaving food and garbage out and attract wildlife and habituate them to view the town as a food source especially when they are trying to get more food for hibernation, I am disappointed to see the streets littered with rotten fruit that could attract wildlife. Any animals that do wander into town could come into contact with children and cause serous injuries and of course the death sentence for the wildlife. As the Town of Cochrane continues to spread its wings in all directions at an alarming rate the town is not taking responsibility as to what they plant as shown by leaving apples to rot on side walks, grass and roads. The rotting fruit is leaving a trail for all wildlife to come and have a snack. These photos were taken on Main Street in and around the Alberta Provincial Building also where Fish & Wildlife’s Office is along with Alberta Parks. What do they think of all of the rotting apples through out Cochrane. I may not live in Cochrane – just west – but I know what it is like to live where bears and other wildlife frequent our backyards. As we all know, when community’s grow wildlife has to go somewhere. We are seeing a change, Cochrane has had bear encounters for years, and so have people who live alongside the Bow Valley Corridor. We all must try and do our part in being more proactive in reducing encounters by not leaving food sources out for wildlife, espeically as animals prepare for winter. Please council could at least clean up the rotting apples and we need Fish and Wildlife to also step up and help get the word out on how to live with all the different types of wildlife. Connie Beaton
