Wawa Municipal Council's approved the ongoing limited predator control hunt in town for another year.
Council approved the continuation in last night's regular meeting, after Charlie Todesco outlined some details of the effort during the Committee of the Whole meeting, explaining that 2 coyotes were observed last year - one at the golf course, the other at the snow dump, the latter getting away as cold weather hampered efforts - while no wolves were observed at the designated locations, though two were killed in the area surrounding the municipality in other hunting activities.
Todesco noted there has been a "marked increase" in wolf sightings over the summer and fall - including with a pack of four observed in town - and he noted they'd received complaints in the Mission area, leading to discussion about adding a spot in that area where they could conduct the predator control hunt to address the concerns.
Mayor Melanie Pilon did ask whether the Municipality has an animal feeding by-law, with Assistant Director of Protective Services Kevin Sabourin noting there is one in place.
The by-law was passed by Council in March 2023, with Sabourin explaining at the time that it was meant to address a number of complaints and curb the presence of predators.
In place since the start of 2017, the limited predator control hunt is restricted to a select group of hunters approved by Council in their by-law and to select locations within the community, from half an hour before sunrise to no later than 9:30 in the morning within a specified season, essentially mid-November to the end of March.