The City of Montreal says signs haven't worked, pamphlets failed to make a change and one-on-one explanations fell on deaf ears so it will now begin fining people who insist on feeding the raccoons on Mount Royal.

The city estimates that there are about 100 raccoons per square kilometre on the mountain and the easy availability of food has attracted many to the area around the Camilien-Houde look-out. The fear is that the creatures will become dependent on hand-outs from humans and therefore more aggressive when supply fluctuates.

City officials say a public information campaign launched in 2010 hasn't deterred people from offering food, so police will now hand out fines of up to 100-dollars for a first offence.