BANFF – The Town of Banff landed in a crappy situation last week when forced to order a resident to stop dumping compost filled with horse manure in the woods behind Marmot Crescent.
Officials with Banff’s municipal enforcement department investigated as soon as the matter was brought to their attention and issued a warning, adding the resident was unaware that it was not permitted.
“The person was warned and the area is being cleaned up. If it’s not cleaned up already, it will be very soon,” said Stan Andronyk, the Town of Banff’s manager of municipal enforcement.
Backyard composting isn’t possible in Banff due to the risk of attracting wildlife, nor can it be dumped on public lands.
Andronyk could not say whether the compost contained food or scraps, but said it contained horse manure.
“Obviously, it’s a risk because it’s an animal attractant … it could definitely cause a scent and it could be an attractant to animals,” he said.
“We need people to be aware of the danger of leaving any type of animal attractant out. It can start as somebody just thinking they’re doing something innocently to having the potential to do damage to wildlife.”
Bears are driven by food, and once they find sources of food in the townsite, they may not come out alive.
Although Parks Canada’s wildlife team will implement aversive conditioning to discourage bears from returning to town, sometimes the lure of easy food is too great.
After getting into human food, bears will continue to seek it out, and this can make them bold and aggressive. This dangerous behaviour may result in the bear being relocated or killed.
As far he knows, Andronyk said he does not believe any wild animals got into the compost pile.
“No, we did not hear anything on that matter,” he said.
When the pile of horse manure drew attention on the Overheard In Banff social media site, the owner of Banff’s commercial horse stables was quick to let the public know it was not Banff Trail Riders.
“I can guarantee you that whatever this is ...it didn’t come from us,” said owner Julie Canning on a Facebook post.
