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Canadian Geese As development continues in suburban areas and wildlife habitat areas decrease, residents may come into contact with wildlife more often.

In most cases, there is no need for alarm and the city does not need to be notified of these encounters. Most wild animals are wary of humans and try to avoid them. However, if an animal is acting aggressive or appears to be sick or injured, residents are encouraged to call 911.

For more information about wildlife, visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website.

City of Plymouth Wildlife Policy

Each year through the budget process, the City Council authorizes the management of wildlife based on public safety and health. View the City of Plymouth Wildlife Policy (PDF)

Best Management Practices

The City of Plymouth employs the following best management practices for controlling unwanted wildlife:

Assist in eliminating wildlife feeding sources
Planting vegetation less desirable to wildlife and/or protect vegetation from damage (e.g. fencing, hardware cloth cylinders to protect individual trees)
Discouraging wildlife from property by harassment
Maintaining a tall buffer of native vegetation along bodies of water to discourage wildlife use

Feeding Wildlife

Please do not feed wildlife. Plymouth Police discourage residents from feeding wildlife in all situations.

Common Nuisance Animals

According to the MN DNR, wild animals (not domesticated animals like dogs or cats) that cause property damage are nuisance animals. For more information, check the Minnesota DNR website.

To read more about some of the common nuisance animals in Plymouth, choose from the list below.

Beaver

Although beavers provide positive environmental value, they can be known to cause property damage.

According to Minnesota law, a nuisance beaver doing damage can be removed by the property owner without permit. A property owner using a removal contractor must obtain a nuisance beaver permit from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Visit the MN DNR's website for details.

Deterring Beaver Damage
Methods for deterring beaver damage include:

Protecting trees by placing hard wire cloth cylinders at least 30 inches tall around the base of the trees
Planting native evergreens, such as common juniper, which beaver do not like, or other shrubs that regrow after some beaver damage
Create a buffer strip of native vegetation around the shoreline

Coyotes

Coyote Each spring, the Plymouth Police Department receives reports and inquiries about coyotes spotted in Plymouth. Plymouth Police encourage residents to haze coyotes in order to better coexist with them.

Hazing Coyotes
Plymouth Police encourage residents to haze coyotes – make loud noises, yell, clap, flail your arms, bang pots and pans or spray them with a garden hose. Continue to haze coyotes until they leave the property. Hazing coyotes helps them retain their natural wariness of humans.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources strongly discourages the practice of removing coyotes, as the remaining coyotes will respond by repopulating quickly and producing larger litters. As such, the Plymouth Police Department does not remove them from the city.

Coyotes give birth in the spring, so they may be more visible and agitated in order to protect their pups. The easiest way to keep coyotes away is to remind them they’re not wanted by hazing them.

Tips to Keep Coyotes Away
Coyotes typically try to avoid humans, however they can become more comfortable or visible in suburban settings. Plymouth Police encourage residents to follow these tips to keep coyotes away:

Do not leave pet food outside
Never feed coyotes, even if they appear tame
Secure unprotected garbage on your property
Pick up fruit that falls off trees
Do not leave small pets outside unattended, especially at night
Do not get between coyotes and their pups

Deer

Deer The City of Plymouth works with organizations such as Three Rivers Park District, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to assess and manage the deer populations in Plymouth. This is done in an effort to minimize vehicle/deer collisions, property damage and other public safety concerns.

Stop the Spread of CWD: Do Not Feed Deer
According to the MN DNR, chronic wasting disease is a fatal brain disease to deer, elk and moose but is not known to affect human health. Residents should not feed deer – the most probable mechanisms for the spread of the disease among deer is over a food source that concentrates animals and allows close contact.

Geese

Canadian Geese Though geese may be enjoyable to watch, they often wear out their welcome when they become too numerous and cover yards, beaches and docks with their feces.

Populations of the Canadian goose have risen dramatically in residential and lake areas because they have an abundant habitat, high reproductive potential and long lifespan, as well as a low mortality rate due to lack of predators and hunting seasons. Visit the MN DNR's website for details.

For the health and safety purposes, the City of Plymouth does the following to manage geese:

Identify sites with excessive damage/droppings and water quality issues
Cooperate with the City of Medicine Lake and Three Rivers Park District for
control of geese on Medicine Lake
Request removal permits from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Work with Canada Goose Management or other comparable contractor to conduct appropriate removals and/or implement egg and nest removal where appropriate
Document and report to MN DNR

Turkeys

According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the state is home to more than 70,000 wild turkeys. These birds are active during the day, foraging for insects, grubs and seeds, so it's not uncommon for them to be spotted in urban and suburban areas.

Wild turkeys are easily acclimated to humans and can become nuisance animals when they roost on roofs, in trees near homes, on decks and other areas.

Yearling males (jakes) may also become aggressive and chase homeowners, children and pets. Property owners who have fed the birds to encourage them to stay typically have regretted the decision once the droppings accumulate, property is damaged or they're chased by aggressive jakes. If this behavior persists, residents are encouraged to call 911.

Tips to Thwart Turkeys
Steps residents can take to discourage turkeys from taking up residence on their property include:

Do not feed turkeys
Keep bird feeder areas clean
Do not raise and release turkeys
Do not let turkeys intimidate you or become comfortable in your yard – chase them away with loud noises, a broom or a water hose.

Visit the MN DNR's website for details.