Please don’t decorate City-owned trees, Red Deer asks

The City of Red Deer is asking residents to refrain from decorating municipally-owned trees.

The City says while it loves the holiday enthusiasm some people have, bedazzling the trees can pose serious risks to wildlife and the environment.

“Ornaments, lights, tinsel and garland may look pretty and festive, but these items take a long time to breakdown in the environment,” says Ken Lehman, Ecological Services Operations Coordinator with The City. “Wildlife is sometimes attracted to the shiny objects and they can even ingest things. Our crews have encountered bucks with lights tangled in their antlers. City staff must spend their time taking down what residents have placed in public spaces.”

This is in fact prohibited under the Parks and Public Facilities Bylaw No. 3255/2000, which prohibits attaching items to trees and other public spaces for the protection of wildlife and pets