Coyotes and What To do About Them
We all see, almost on a daily basis, various members of the varied fauna with whom we share this part of the country, and for the most part interactions are limited. But that is not always the case.
Recently I received an email from a resident concerning a particularly brazen Coyote:
Dear Councillor Kroon,
I have contacted Animal Services of WS because it seems that a single brazen coyote has taken 4 cats in our neighbourhood in the space of 10 days. We buried the remains of one yesterday afternoon. It is coming onto our street, into our yards and onto our porches.
I would like Animal control to come and set a trap for it before any more pets go missing.
It is a danger and must be caught immediately.
I replied as below:
Hi,
We at the Town are well aware that the issue of coyotes, other predators, and nuisance wildlife is becoming a real problem here in Whitchurch-Stouffville as well as other municipalities in the GTA.
Many believe the problem is due largely to human encroachment into their habitat, but this is in reality something of a fallacy.
The ebb and flow of dominant species in any given natural habitat has been going on for eons, and the inter-relationships and/or position on the food chain was kept in balance by predation, and natural selection.
That all changed with the introduction of humans, and their predilection to inhabit an area without showing dominance, and in many cases improving the habitat for many other species' just below us on the ladder. We as a species, seem to have the notion that by being "nice" to animals, they will somehow want to be nice to us.
Although that may work (in part) for domesticated animals, that hasn't show any promise with actual wildlife.
When animals who are normally at or near the top of the food chain, typically large mammalian predators, and are not used/hunted as a food source, or at very least driven out by a competing species, they will see all other species' as a food source, including those that should be above them.
In short the coyotes see us as a source of food, especially our vulnerable young (which is what they see our pets as).
As well, many of us make the situation worse by providing them food, either unintentionally by leaving out garbage etc, or intentionally feeding because the well meaning amongst us think they need our help to survive.
Of course, nothing could be farther from the truth. These species and others like them have survived until now, and will continue to do so without our help/interference.
In your case what is most likely, is that this particular animal had, or has, an ongoing source of food in the neighbourhood and is becoming more brazen and looking for a better and more varied menu. This is where your pets come in.
What to do?
Well first, secure your pets. Then check for other potential food sources in the neighbourhood, including garbage/recycling or commercial sources like businesses/restaurants/golf courses etc.
If the source of food disappears, so will the predators.
My guess is however one of your neighbours is feeding this animal, either on purpose, or by putting pet food outside for their own animals.
As far as help from official agencies, you have by now found out that the OSPCA and animal control will not help you. The former is primarily concerned only with treatment of animals, and the latter with domestic animals and licensing.
The Town normally only reaches out to these two agencies when we have an issue, and so we ourselves really don't have any other tools to help you with.
The Ministry of Natural Resources "regulates and manages" wildlife in the province, but does little to deal with nuisance animals, and are hesitant to get involved with such situations. They will provide to you only advice much the same as I did above.
Finally, the police do deal with animals, but only when they are a clear and immediate danger to humans. Although well meaning, they are mostly unprepared and unskilled with this sort of task, and to be perfectly honest have the wrong kind of equipment (their firearms) to properly deal with this.
So my best advice is as above, but if you are willing to go further, I can put you in contact with a trapper (who the Town uses on rare occasion) who is licensed and authorized to take care of these situations and could be available to help you out.
I now this is all very frustrating, but there is not much else I can do.
For my part, I feel the province has really dropped the ball by changing the mandate of the MNR and abdicating their responsibility for wildlife and their management. All those animals are the responsibility of the province (as agents of the Crown) and they should do more to protect the populace from losses caused by these animals.
The resident is obviously frustrated, and as I indicated I wish I could offer more in the way of help. But unfortunately the real authority to deal with this issue is out side of Municipal jurisdiction.
That lies at the Province with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Climate Change, as it iis now officially named, which gives the public an indication of what that ministry's focus now is. We at the Town have, or should have a lot of dealings with that ministry, as their mandate includes not only regulation and management of wildlife, natural environment features and also in ground resources including sand and gravel excavation. Without going into much detail, the latter is a particular failing on their behalf, and leaves Towns such as ours in a precarious position when it comes to dealing with theses operations.
All of this and other issues are important to our Town, and are on my list for discussion with our local MPP, Helena Jaczek, which I will raise with her at out next meeting.
As always, if any of you would like for information on this or any other topic, please feel free to contact me. Thanks.
