Wildlife - Town of Ajax


Ajax Animal Services does not handle wildlife concerns unless the animal is injured or is located on Town property. For wildlife issues on private property, please refer to the Yellow Pages for a private wildlife control company.

White-Tail Deer

The White-Tailed Deer is very common and well-known to most Canadians. The 'flag' of a White-Tailed Deer is the white underside of the tail which can be seen when the tail is raised. The top side of the tail is brown with a white fringe. The colour varies with the season from reddish in the summer to grayish in the winter. Often a female will leave her fawn for hours at a time only returning to feed. This is often mistaken for an abandoned fawn but these little animals should not be touched as human scent on the fawn may then cause the doe to abandon it. Deer usually feed on leafy material but will rely on twigs and buds in the winter months. Although beautiful, deer are large animals that can be dangerous when scared or startled as they are very skittish. They can often be seen jumping high and quick to get away from something that has startled them, but this can sometimes put them, and humans, directly in the path of danger. If you notice that a deer has wondered into a neighbourhood, please keep your distance. No interaction should ever take place between any human and the deer. If the deer is an immediate threat to public safety or is injuring itself please contact the Police. If the deer is peaceful, all pets should be moved indoors until the deer leaves the area. If it has wondered into a rear yard, the gates of all surrounding properties should be closed. At nightfall, many deer can easily find their way back from where they came from.


Coyotes are wild animals that are considered a part of urban wildlife. It appears that coyotes have moved into Towns and Cities, but it is actually the Towns and Cities that have been built around the coyotes. They are usually gray, buff or reddish-gray in colour and are roughly the same size as a medium-sized dog. They are primarily carnivorous feeding on rodents and birds but they also eat berries and vegetation. Always keep in mind that coyotes are wildlife and they should never be approached. Also, coyotes are timid animals that do not want much involvement with humans but once fed, they begin to get accustomed to humans and they become brazen, so remember to never feed wildlife. If coyotes are becoming more brazen in your area, it is suggested that you remove birdfeeders from yards and do not leave food or garbage out in the open. Garbage should be put out the morning of pick up and not the night before. Children and pets should be closely supervised at all times in areas where coyotes are known to reside. Generally, if your enclosed yard is sufficient to keep your medium to large-sized dog contained, it should be able to keep a coyote out, but, adult supervision is still always recommended.

For great information regarding coyotes in Ontario please visit the Ministry of Natural Resources website.


Foxes are not the cunning and sly animals we see in the books and movies; they are actually quite shy and nervous and are highly intelligent. Like other animals, they are commonly seen in urban environments and have adapted quite well to living in areas of dense human population. The Red Fox, commonly seen in southern Ontario, has a pointed face, large pointed ears, and a bushy tail and is the size of a small to medium-sized dog. Although, the name suggests the colour, not all Red Foxes are actually red as some vary in colour including gray, brown and black. The fox's diet includes rodents, plants and fruit. Although generally less threatening than coyotes (due to size and behaviour), foxes are still wildlife and should never be approached or fed by humans. Small pets and children should be supervised and birdfeeders and garbage should be maintained so that foxes are not drawn in to residential areas.

Nuisance Wildlife

Nuisance animals such as raccoons, skunks, and squirrels are a part of our everyday urban wildlife. Although these animals can occasionally become a nuisance, they are a very normal part of the fauna of any urban center. These animals will remain to be a regular occurrence in any Town or City as they have been for many years. Although regularly seen, we must remember that they are wildlife and should never be approached or fed for any reason. By not feeding these animals, it will deter them from becoming accustomed to encounters with humans.