Insects & Wildlife

Ash Leaf Cone Roller larvae feed on the underside of ash tree leaves, causing them to curl into a cone shape. While this may look concerning, healthy trees can tolerate the damage, and leaves will regrow the following season.

If the issue becomes persistent or you want to protect a large ash tree, stingless wasps can be used as a natural control method. Chemical sprays are not effective, as the larvae are protected inside the curled leaves.

Visually, these insects can be difficult to identify, but both play an important role in our ecosystem. Wasps serve as a natural pest control as they prey on other insects, and bees are pollinators. For this reason, when it’s safe to do so, the City strives to keep and relocate as many wasp, and bee, nests as possible. If a nest proves to be a safety hazard to the community, Park staff will determine the safest way to proceed using the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program.

Bees will swarm together when they travel in search of a new location for a hive. Once they’ve found a location, the bees all hover or land on a tree or bush. If you notice this on your property or in a high traffic area, phone a local beekeeper and they'll happily relocate the bees.

If you come across either a wasp nest or a bee hive on a City property, report it on Fort Report. Never approach the nests or try and deal with it yourself!

Did you know: 90% of flowering plant species on earth depend on insect pollination? For example, if a honey bee makes 10 trips in a day with its colony of 25,000 bees, and visits between 50-1,000 flowers –that’s 250 million flowers pollinated in a day! Bees are a keystone species, other species in our ecosystem depend on them to survive –including humans!

Helpful wasp control tips

• Keep your yard free of fruit that has fallen off trees, or vegetables that have spoiled in the garden.
• Avoid leaving sweet drinks or open food out in the open.
• Make sure the lids are secure on your compost and garbage bins.
• If using wasp traps, try to keep them 10 or more feet away from sitting or eating areas.
• If you need to remove a nest on your property, don't attempt to remove or spray it during the heat of the day. Wait until the evening or early morning when wasps are less active.

The Elm Scale is a sap sucking insect that calls Elm trees home. The trouble with this pest is it feeds on the sap from leaves and branches, and can cause weak trees to die. If your tree is suffering from elm scale it’ll have a sooty, black mold on the leaves from the insects. To rid Elm trees of Elm, it’s recommended to power wash trees to remove the sap and prevention of the sooty mold. Another treatment for Elm Scale is to prune the trees; however, it’s very important to follow the pruning ban in Alberta from April 1 to September 30 every year. This is to prevent Dutch Elm Disease from infecting the Elm trees in the area.

Pollinators are animals that help plants reproduce by moving pollen from one flower to another. This process is essential for many plants, including fruits and vegetables.

About 75% of flowering plants rely on animal pollinators like bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, bats, and even small mammals. Pollinators play a key role in growing about 30% of the world’s major food crops—so every apple or tomato you enjoy is thanks to them!

How You Can Help Pollinators

• Reduce pesticide use and support green spaces
• Plant native flowers that provide nectar, pollen, and shelter
• Protect natural habitats from pollution and overdevelopment

Pollinator friendly plants

• Liatris
• Aster
• Sunflower
• Lavendar
• Goldenrod
• Coneflower
• Milkweed
• Bee Balm

Creating pollinator-friendly spaces helps support biodiversity and keeps our environment healthy.

City staff do not remove or relocate wildlife under any circumstances.

Please report all concerns to Alberta Fish and Wildlife: 780-427-3574.

Beavers

Beavers play an important role in the ecosystem by creating ponds and wetlands that support other wildlife. However, they can also cause damage by chewing trees and building dams.

Beavers are generally not aggressive toward people or pets, but they may defend themselves if they feel threatened. A beaver family lives near the pond at West River’s Edge, close to the Dog Park. If you see a beaver, keep your dog close, use a leash, or move to another fenced area. Staying aware and respectful helps keep you, your pets, and the beavers safe.

Coyotes

Coyotes help control rodent populations and are an important part of the local ecosystem. They’re usually shy and avoid people, but like any wild animal, their behavior can be unpredictable if they feel threatened.

To reduce coyote encounters:

• Don’t leave food, garbage, or dog waste outside, these attract coyotes.
• Remove hiding spots like spaces under decks, sheds, or low-hanging branches.

If you see a coyote:

• Make yourself look big, wave your arms, and shout to scare it off.
• At off-leash dog parks, leash your dog to avoid conflict.

If you have an immediate concern regarding a coyote, please contact Alberta Fish and Wildlife: 780-427-3574

Garter Snakes

Alberta has three species of Garter Snakes. These small, slender snakes rank among the most common snakes in the province.

They can be found in a wide variety of habitats and are often encountered along the margins of wetlands, rivers, and other bodies of water. All Garter Snakes are harmless to people and when approached they quickly retreat to dense cover or water. Garter snakes are not picky and will eat almost any creature that they are able to catch including small fish, amphibians, small mammals, earthworms, slugs, and leeches.

Hibernacula (Winter Dens)

All Alberta reptiles survive the winter in places where they will not freeze. Each fall, Alberta snakes set off from their summer feeding grounds back to traditional winter dens, called hibernacula.

Fort Saskatchewan is home to a garter snake hibernacula! If you happen to come across a hibernacula, please do not touch or disturb it.

If you've ever noticed sticky sap on your car after parking under a tree, Woolly Elm Aphids might be the cause. These insects feed on the underside of elm leaves, causing them to curl into cone shapes. While they’re harmless to people and trees, the sap they leave behind can be a nuisance.

The City doesn’t use chemical sprays to treat these pests, since the larvae are protected inside the curled leaves. If you have an elm tree with aphids, spraying the tree with water can help reduce the stickiness. You can also avoid parking under elm trees during their active feeding period in May.

Photo by Steven Katovich, Bugwood.org