Answers for wildlife queries

Choosing to live in a neighbourhood partially surrounded by a forest or green area may be a good idea to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Montreal, but it can be problematic when it comes to sharing your backyard with the region’s wildlife.

Homeowners in the West Island know lawn maintenance can be a difficult situation on its own, but when animals, big and small, are ruining in your garden and causing damage to your property on a regular basis, it’s time to seek some help. The Urban Nature Information Service (UNIS) understands the annoyance brought on by this situation.

For more than 20 years now, UNIS has been helping homeowners deal with unwanted attention from wildlife (such as deer, raccoons, and skunks) among other distractions in their yards. UNIS is a bilingual, non-profit service that is open from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The service based at McGill University’s Macdonald Campus in Ste. Anne de Bellevue, is run by students studying in fields such as zoology, wildlife biology, horticulture, and agriculture, with faculty and staff backing them up. UNIS hopes to offer information to those who want to be free of local wildlife and small garden animals.

Available throughout the summer (mid-May to mid-August), UNIS answers any questions you may have on which repellent techniques and products are safe and effective (for both animals and the environment), how to handle returning aggressive animals and how to organize your yard to avoid these unpleasant situations altogether.

UNIS not only helps with diverting unwanted attention, but also provides information on welcoming smaller, friendlier animals, such as birds and butterflies for those enthusiasts who appreciate the company of such creatures. Furthermore, UNIS offers information on how to adjust your gardening habits to being a better environmentally friendly gardener.

For more information on UNIS, visit www.unis.mcgill.ca.