The Town of Drumheller this month began periodic trapping of cats in the downtown core in response to complaints.
    The Town of Drumheller made mention to the program on its Facebook page on December 4.
    “There are some businesses that have cats hanging around,” said community enforcement supervisor Greg Peters.
    He said so far they have trapped one feral cat and it was relocated to a rural residence to live as a barn cat.
    He said they are placing the traps only during the day so if an animal is caught it is not exposed excessively to the elements.
    He said while feral cats can be a problem, not all the felines hanging around downtown are wild.
    “Some of them are really friendly and well fed, these are domestic cats,” he said adding that in one instance a cat was so “well fed” it couldn’t fit into the trap.
    “So keeping with the new Responsible Pet Owner Bylaw draft I am completing we want to stress to people to keep cats at home,” said Peters. “I know cats want to go outside, but there are a lot of well-fed friendly cats just walking our streets.”
    He understands it is a controversial subject and recognizes the usefulness of feral cars with pest control, and often at night he would see them catching mice. But he also understands they can be nuisance. Keeping cats at home is also the best way to keep cats safe.
    Peters says if any residents have questions or feedback to feel free to contact community enforcement at 403-823-1363.

    Your Christmas tree may be the gift that keeps on giving this season.
    The Green Team at the Town of Drumheller has identified one of its goals in the new year, and that is not to landfill Christmas trees.
    “The Green Team has made this a priority,” said Tammi Nygaard of Drumheller Solid Waste.
     They have introduced a tree-recycling program to make good use of Christmas trees after the needles have begun to fall.
    For years the Kinsmen Club of Drumheller would pickup trees to use at the club's annual tree burn at the ski kill.  It may not have been the most environmentally sound way to dispose of trees, but it was popular.
    However for the last few years residents' only option was to landfill their trees.
    Now Christmas trees will be accepted free of charge at the landfill. Residents can drop their trees off between December 31 and January 18.  Residents are asked to ensure the trees are free and clear of decorations, especially tinsel. At that time, they can leave their name and be entered into a draw for a chance to win a rain barrel or composter.
    The trees will be chipped into mulch and it will be used by the Town of Drumheller in local parks and green spaces, or made available to residents to use in their own yards.