Coyotes in the neighbourhood

Just a little bit of a warning, one of our neighbours had a young coyote follow him when walking his dog along the path to the elementary school.

Some basics about coyotes

Residents living near ravines or wooded areas in Toronto are being warned they can expect more coyote sightings in their neighbourhoods this time of year. Coyotes are nothing new in Toronto, especially in the Beaches, where the four-legged canines have become a regular fixture in the east-end neighbourhood. The animals are more active and visible during the winter months, which is generally their mating season. With a particularly snowy winter, the city says they’ll be easier to spot in parks and ravines.

Residents are advised to keep their pets supervised and on leashes, and not to approach or feed the coyotes.

Despite the warnings, animal groups say coyotes pose no danger to humans living in urban areas. Residents in the Beaches tell CTV Toronto there are two coyotes that live in a den up on a hill, and that they are quite curious, venturing out most mornings and most evenings. Coyotes have also been known to frequent Tommy Thompson Park, located at the foot of Leslie Street, and roam the Don Valley.

Wildlife officials say coyotes are wary by nature and are generally more comfortable roaming the residential neighbourhoods when fewer people are outside. But there have been some encounters, with tragic consequences.

How to co-exist with urban coyotes

To minimize “negative encounters” with coyotes, the city of Toronto provided a tip sheet to residents:
- Avoid feeding coyotes or other wild animals. Feeding wild animals is detrimental to the animals themselves and can create problems for the neighbourhood.
- Avoid feeding domestic pets outdoors.
- Ensure that all household garbage is inaccessible to animals.
- Place garbage at the curb on the morning of the scheduled pickup rather than the night before.
- Consider using green bins instead of composters for food waste.
- Always supervise pets – keep dogs on a leash and keep cats indoors or supervised when outside.
- Remove dense brush and weeds around property to minimize hiding spots for coyotes.
- If you encounter a coyote, wave your arms aggressively, make loud noises and throw objects in its direction to scare it away. These actions teach coyotes to be afraid of humans and will help to minimize conflicts with coyotes. If those kinds of actions do not scare aware a coyote, slowly back away from the coyote – avoid turning your back or running away. When you have an opportunity later, report the encounter to the City by calling 311.

With a report from CTV Toronto’s Dana Levenson