Wildlife In The City

We live in the middle of a large city. Our city is particularly unique as it is bordered on one side by Lake Ontario and the other sides by sister cities. What makes it unique is that several main throughways run the complete way north to south through our city. The highways divide the city in areas bounded by roads and rivers and deep valleys divide the city north and south. These river valleys caused conservation areas to be established and became home to numerous animals.

Deer used to be present in many areas only years ago but have been driven away by development. Coyotes, possums and raccoons abound in these treed and undeveloped stripes of land. Trails abound throughout the conservation lands and people use these places for walking and bike riding. Because we have so much open space wildlife abound. Canada geese, ducks and swans as well as other water based life birds make Oakville their home.

• Our own yards are well treed and birds seem to be everywhere. In our yard alone we were home to new families of sparrows, robins and blue jays and our feeders had cardinals and orioles as frequent guests. So we live in a city but have plenty of life all around us. Squirrels, and chipmunks have their homes in our trees and become very tame. We have the best of two worlds. City comfort with  country wildlife.