Wildlife Management By-laws Review

Wolf and Coyote Control by-law

The Wolf and Coyote Control By-law provides financial compensation to trappers and hunters for removing coyotes or wolves that have attacked livestock. This by-law was created to help reduce attacks on livestock by paying trappers or hunters to remove problem animals. It was created in 1990 and last updated in 2010. 

Wolf and Coyote Control By-law               Amendment to Wolf and Coyote Control By-law

Nuisance Beaver by-law

The Nuisance Beaver By-law provides financial compensation to trappers for removing nuisance beavers. This by-law was created in 1983 and was last updated in 2004. Trapping helps control beaver populations and manage their dam-building activities. While beavers play a helpful role in ecosystems by creating wetlands, they can also cause problems: 

• Flooding of farm fields, roads, and other areas 

• Damage to property, roads, bridges, and culverts 

• Blocking of streams and waterways 

• Damage to forest ecosystems through flooding and tree removal  

Nuisance Beaver By-law               Amendment to Nuisance Beaver By-law

How do the current programs work? 

• The programs only provide compensation to trappers or hunters:

  • for wolves or coyotes if a livestock attack has occurred. 

  • for beavers when damage from a nuisance beaver has been reported.

• The payment is $50 per coyote or wolf or $25 per beaver.

• The programs do not compensate farmers for the value of lost livestock. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs runs a separate program that reimburses owners for livestock killed by predators. 

Why is the County reviewing these by-laws? 

• The compensation rates have remained unchanged for over 20 years and may need to be updated. 

• The process of using these by-laws to claim compensation is due to be updated.  

• A review will help determine if these by-laws are still necessary or if there are other methods of managing wolves, coyotes and beavers that should be considered. 

How could this review affect trappers? 

Depending on the review outcome, trappers and hunters could see: 

• An increase in compensation rates.

• Changes to the claim processes.

• Possible discontinuation of the programs.

How could this review affect landowners? 

• This review will not change whether landowners can hire trappers or hunters to address wolf or coyote predation or flooding or damage caused by beavers. 

• If the program is discontinued, wolf/coyote hunting and beaver trapping would still be permitted under provincial regulations, but the County would no longer provide compensation. 

Will this change hunting or trapping regulations? 

No, this will not impact hunting and trapping regulations, just the County’s compensation program. All hunting and trapping must continue to follow provincial rules and regulations. 

What is the timeline for this review?

• Public input and research (Spring 2025) 

• Draft by-law development (Summer 2025) 

• Draft by-law presentation to Council (Late Summer/Fall 2025) 

• Updated by-law in effect (Fall/Winter 2025) 

Note: These dates may change as the review progresses. 

Attend the public workshop

A public workshop will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025 at the Grey Agricultural Service Centre at 206 Toronto St S in Markdale from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. This will be an informal come-and-go with the opportunity to ask questions and leave comments about the review. 

Attend the public open house

A formal public open house well be held on Thursday, May 8, 2025 at the Grey County Administration Building at 595 9th Ave. East, Owen Sound.

Open house 6:00 p.m. 

Public meeting 7:00 p.m. 

The public meeting will also be streamed live on www.grey.ca/livestream. 

Submit comments online

Complete the form below or email trapping [at] grey.ca (trapping[at]grey[dot]ca) by May 30, 2025.

Submit comments by mail

Mail your written comments before May 30, 2025 to Grey County Planning, 595 9th Ave. East, Owen Sound, ON  N4K 3E3.

Learn more about the Forest Management by-law review

Learn more about Natural Resource Management in Grey County