Why do I regularly see coyotes travel through my neighbourhood?

Frequently seeing a coyote could mean that it is finding reliable sources of food in your neighbourhood. Sometimes people intentionally feed coyotes. Coyotes that become accustomed to people will lose their natural fear and may become aggressive leading to serious public safety concerns.

Without realizing it, you may be providing coyotes with a regular food source. Look around your yard; you might have resident small rodents such as mice, squirrels and rabbits, the mainstay of an urban coyote's diet. Pet food, garbage and fruit fallen from trees might also be available. Reduce your chances of attracting coyotes by ensuring that these items are not present.

Cooperation among neighbours is critical to reduce the possibility of attracting coyotes.

In addition, there are a few simple alterations you can make to your yard to ensure your safety and peace of mind.

• Remove low branches on trees that can provide hiding places for coyotes or attract small rodents, particularly near children's play areas.
• Keep a clean backyard by removing seeds, meat, suet for birds and fallen fruit. These attract mice and squirrels, which are prey for coyotes.
• Install motion lights in your yard.

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Why do coyotes visit schoolyards?

Coyotes visit schoolyards for the same reason they investigate backyards and laneways; they are searching for food. This search is guided by a keen sense of smell. The smell of leftover lunches and food wrappers coming from a schoolyard's garbage container can be a powerful attractant. Children should place litter in schoolyard garbage cans that are animal-proof with secure lids. Garbage containers should be cleaned out daily, reducing odor and further preventing the attraction of coyotes.

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What can I do to keep my child safe?

Teach children not to approach coyotes or any other wildlife. If you know that coyotes are in your area, supervise small children when they play outside. Make sure each child knows what to do if they encounter a coyote. Just like you, your child must respond aggressively to coyote encounters. You can role play and rehearse different responses to coyote encounters and attach a whistle to their school backpack to use as a deterrent.

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Is it typical to see coyotes during the day?

Like many other wild animals, coyotes tend to be most active between dusk and dawn. They usually spend the day resting in their dens, under low branches of trees or any other protected area. It is not uncommon to see them at any time of the day because coyotes can adapt their daily routines, especially if they successfully find reliable food sources.

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Is it normal to see coyotes in groups or packs?

It is normal to see small groups of coyotes during certain times of the year. Coyotes looking for mates gather in January or February. They tend to be more territorial and aggressive toward dogs at this time of year. They could consider your dog a threat. Coyotes will try to entice your dog away and attack it to eliminate the threat. Keeping your dog leashed at all times is the best way to keep it safe.

In summer and fall, coyote families travel together in search of food. As well, coyote sightings may be more common in summer as young animals explore their surroundings. People make more frequent use of urban parks and green belt areas during this time which also increases the possibility of encounters.

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Why not remove coyotes from cities?

Since removing coyotes from urban areas involves techniques that can pose serious health and safety risks to people and their pets, modern wildlife management focuses on “aversive conditioning”, which is a non-lethal control method. This practice attempts to change an animal's behaviour by making all human-coyote encounter unpleasant for the animal. This method only works if we all respond to coyote encounters aggressively.

Conventional control measures typically used to remove coyotes from cities have included lethal methods such as live trapping and euthanasia, neck and leg snaring, poisoning, and shooting. These measures can pose serious health and safety risks when used in close proximity to people and their pets.

Past efforts to remove coyotes from urban environments have failed. To be effective, coyote elimination programs must remove a large portion of the population and be completed every year. Once removal programs end, coyote populations recover rapidly, sometimes even exceeding their original size.

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