Patrol Notes

Hours of Operation
Visitors need to cooperate and respect the changing park hours. The following is a schedule of the park gate opening and closing times. Vehicles inside parking areas after posted hours will be locked-in or towed.

March 1 - April 30	08:00 - 20:00 (8:00 p.m.)	Spring
May 1 - September 5	08:00 - 22:00 (10:00 p.m.	Summer
September 6 - October 30	08:00 - 20:00 (8:00 p.m.)	Fall
October 31 - February 28	08:00 - 18:00 (6:00 p.m.)	Winter

Water Safety
Fish Creek and many of the man-made ponds are incurring large volumes of water and high water levels with rain amounts being received. To ensure your safety, stay away from all water bodies including creek and pond banks in the Park.

Pets
We appreciate the efforts of our visitors in keeping their pets on the leash. By cooperating with our leash law, visitors help to keep the park safe for wildlife as well as pets and other visitors. Please be watchful and maintain control of your pets. Bring a plastic bag with you to pick up after your dog. Dog waste does not readily decompose. It is not a natural contribution to the park ecosystem, often carries harmful parasites and it adds additional nitrogen that can encourage the growth of noxious weeds. Place the bag of waste in a trash container.

Feeding Wildlife
Officers have noticed places within the park and along its boundaries where food, bird seed and salt are being left for birds and other wildlife. Feeding wildlife puts the wildlife in danger, and is a chargeable offence under park legislation.

Wildlife become dependent on the feed stations and the increased population that results from this supply of food negatively impacts vegetation on neighbouring properties. Often large wildlife that are feed unnatural foods end up habituated to being fed and this contact with humans eventually leads to the animal being destroyed.

Officers will remove feeding stations to deter feeding birds and wildlife that are inside park boundaries. Stations that remain or reoccur will incur enforcement action, which will be taken against anyone who knowingly feeds wildlife in the park.

Coyotes / Bobcats  In Fish Creek Provincial Park and surrounding areas you will likely see coyotes/bobcats. Sightings/reportings of these animals increase at this time of year because they must travel further to find food. Mating also occurs during January and February so you may see them move in groups or pairs rather than just single animals. To prevent conflicts between Fish Creek Provincial Park users and the parks animals at any time of year; we ask that you keep your pets on a short leash and plan your route to avoid a close encounter. For more information see the section on Living with Coyotes.

Vehicle Break-and-Enter
Vehicle break-and-enter is an ongoing concern in the parking lots of Fish Creek Provincial Park. Do not leave valuables in your car, you can reduce the chance of becoming a victim by locking them up in your trunk or placing them out-of-sight.

Vehicle break-ins and any other criminal activity should be reported directly to the Calgary City Police at 403-266-1234 or visit your local police station, these reports are radioed to Conservation Officers.

Occasionally we find articles, from these crimes, in the park. If you contact the park office at 403-297-5293, we can watch out for your missing items.