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  • 905-845-6601
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Coyotes

.Coyotes are found in urban areas throughout North America, including Oakville. Seeing a coyote in Oakville is not necessarily cause for alarm. Coyotes are not considered a significant risk to people. They are usually wary of humans and avoid people whenever possible, however they are wild animals and we should avoid contact. Most negative coyote interactions are preventable. 

When we are aware and knowledgeable of our wildlife and we act responsibly and respectfully, it is easier to coexist.

  • Review the Coyote Fact Sheet (pdf)

 


Understanding coyotes

Spring to early summer is pupping season

Coyotes may be more visible during spring/early summer

Coyotes tend to be more visible during the spring – more sightings, more interactions with dogs, more shadowing (or following) of people.

The reason for the increased visibility is due to denning and pupping season, the time of year when coyotes are both more active around and protective of their den sites.

  • Review the Coyote Spring flyer (pdf).

Coyote dens

While hazing usually works to frighten off a coyote, it doesn’t always work during the spring when there is a den and pups to defend.

The Urban Coyote Initiative states:

“If a coyote seems intent on defending a certain area, particularly around pupping season, your best bet may be to alter your route to avoid conflict with a normally calm animal.”

Winter is mating season

Coyotes may be more visible in the winter

Vocalizations in the form of yipping and howling may become more common during this time as they communicate with one another as they seek a mate.

  • Review the Coyote Winter flyer (pdf) for tips on how to avoid negative experiences with coyotes.

Reducing coyote conflicts

Discourage coyotes from entering your property

  • Never feed or leave food out for a coyote.
  • Remove all water and food sources from your yard, including birdseed and ripe/rotted fruit that has fallen to the ground. 
  • Store garbage, compost and pet food in a place coyotes cannot access.
  • Supervise animals when they are in the yard. Cats should not be permitted to roam freely.
  • ​Clean up after your dog. Coyotes are attracted to dog feces.
  • Remove long grass, dead brush and wood piles. These conditions provide potential den sites for coyotes or other wild animals that attract coyotes.
  • Ensure gaps around and under decks and sheds are closed off with wire screening.
  • Use motion sensors.

Keep your pets safe

  • Always keep your pets on a leash when out for a walk unless you are in a leash-free park. This will allow for better care and control of your animal if you see a coyote.
  • If you live near green spaces, ravines, and other areas where coyotes live, keep a close eye on your pets.
  • Keep cats indoors.

What to do if you encounter a coyote

  • Practice hazing to let the coyote know they are not welcome. Appear aggressive: stand tall, wave your arms, shout, clap your hands and make lots of noise.
  • Keep pets attended and on leash.
  • Do not turn your back on, or run from, a coyote.
  • If you see pups or suspect there are pups in the area or if the coyote is not easily frightened away, keep your dog on a short leash, pick up small pets and children, and back away from the area. Consider changing your route for a few weeks. The coyote may have been denning in the area and will likely move on after some time.
  • Do not leave food waste in town garbage cans in parks as this may attract rodents which may in turn attract coyotes.

To learn more, please review our Living with Coyotes fact sheet (pdf).

Practice hazing when encountering a coyote

Taking action to set boundaries

The town’s coyote hazing video explains what to do if you encounter a coyote on your property, and shows you how to haze or scare them away.

If embraced by the entire community, repeated hazing ensures coyotes maintain their fear of humans and know our homes are off limits.

Coyotes in the Urban Landscape: e-Learning Module

Information for urban residents

Take an e-learning course on Coyotes in the Urban Landscape to learn basic facts about coyote behaviour and how both animals and people can remain safe.

This informational module was created in partnership with the City of Toronto and Coyote Watch Canada.

Report and track coyote sightings

Help keep your community coyote aware!

Report coyote sightings

Check out our coyote reporting form, that is now compatible with mobile devices and also allows users to upload pictures and video and post to social media. 

Please report coyote sightings and activity through this system. If there is an immediate risk to safety call 911 as the reporting system is not designed to respond to these types of calls.

Mange is circulating in some coyote populations in Oakville which has led to these animals frequenting residential neighbourhoods to seek warmth and find easy food such as birdseed and garbage. Mange is not a threat to humans or pets and does not directly lead to increased aggression. 

Through the coyote reporting form, the town is working with the Oakville Humane Society to assist them in locating and treating infected coyotes.

Track reported coyote sightings

Visit the coyote sightings map to learn where coyotes have been observed. This mapping reflects reported sightings and is not meant to indicate the number of coyotes present or a complete profile of where coyotes are present in Oakville. It provides the town and residents with useful information on understanding where the possibility of encountering a coyote may be more prevalent.

What about relocating coyotes?

Capture and relocation of coyotes more than one kilometre away is not permitted under Ontario's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act

Research shows wildlife relocated from urban areas usually return or become a problem elsewhere.

In addition, when coyotes are hunted or lethally destroyed, remaining ones compensate by producing larger litters and expanding their range. Only in rare cases where an individual coyote is demonstrating unusual or aggressive behaviour or severe trauma or illness do animal control agencies attempt to capture coyotes.

If a coyote poses an immediate threat to safety, call 911.

Contact the Oakville and Milton Humane Society at 905-845-1551 if you encounter a coyote you believe to be sick or injured.

Other wildlife

Biodiversity programs and services

Oakville residents are fortunate to live in one of the most biodiverse areas in Ontario with over 900 different species of plants, 185 types of birds, 30 species of amphibians and reptiles, 29 mammals and 58 different kinds of fish.

The town has a number of programs and services in place to protect and enhance these resources, including: 

  • Wildlife Management Strategy
  • Online coyote reporting system
  • Biodiversity
  • Willdlife-proofing Your Property

March 31, 2022 Virtual Information Night Q&A

How do you define success with your program when it appears the coyote problem has increased by 90 per cent over the last few years?

As the town continues its efforts to educate the public on co-existing with coyotes, success is measured by an increase in public engagement and awareness of coyotes, the online reporting tool, and field case studies where staff have been able to address problem environments that attract coyotes. Through this engagement, staff have been able to identify areas where the community can benefit from education materials, signage, and enforcement support.

It is important to note the town’s reporting tool is meant to report sightings and does not reflect the coyote population in Oakville. Multiple sightings may reflect the same coyote in an area.

What is each organization responsible for when addressing coyote concerns?

The Town of Oakville is responsible for:

  • Investigations as outlined in the Coyote Response Strategy.
  • Receiving and analyzing relevant data from the Report a Coyote form.
  • Community outreach and public engagement
  • Overseeing the Coyote Education and Response Procedure
  • Installing signage and managing secure garbage bins in parks

The Ministry of Natural Resources assists with:

  • Policy and legislation
  • Educational materials

The Oakville & Milton Humane Society is responsible for:

  • Responding to calls of sick or injured animals (including coyotes)
  • Enforcement of town by-laws related to domestic pets (for example, pets off leash)
  • Removal of dead animals from public roadways
  • Education

The town also leverages external partners to assist with:

  • Scientific expertise
  • Community education and humane hazing
  • Investigations

How many tickets have been issued by By-law enforcement for feeding coyotes and what is the maximum fine?

From 2020-2022, 69 charges were issued under the lot maintenance by-law, however the number of charges specific to feeding coyotes is difficult to determine because of how it is enforced under the Town bylaws. The town is reviewing ways to enhance this in future bylaw amendments. Currently the conditions consistent with feeding coyotes can fall under a number of by-laws, including lot maintenance concerns and property standards as well as feeding wildlife on town park lands.

Enforcement staff also look at each case independently and different types of measures, such as compliance orders, and education may be used.

It is important to note that feeding wildlife can be intentional and unintentional such as improperly kept garbage, unkempt bird feeders or keeping an environment that harbors pests and vermin. In these instances, the town enforces the Lot Maintenance and Property Standards By-law. Fines start at $300 up to a maximum of $25,000 for individuals.

The Coyotes Sightings map shows that there have not been any reports of coyotes in Bronte Creek Provincial Park, however we are concerned that coyotes are killing other animals. Would a coyote kill a fawn near a coyote den?

The town has not received any information or reports of fawn being killed near a coyote den. In consultation with wildlife partners, they have shared fawn survivorship is impacted by multiple environmental factors and it is unlikely that a mother would leave a fawn near a coyote den. Fawn are also unscented, which reduces the likelihood of another animal finding them.

What’s more common, coyotes assaulting humans or dogs assaulting humans?

In consolation with the Halton Region Public Health, statistics have been reported as follows:

In 2021, 195* dog bite investigations and two coyote investigations occurred in Oakville.

*one was reported as likely a dog

To provide additional clarity on the numbers reflective above, these are based on reports of contact, however, have not been verified for accuracy. From the date provided above we can see that the reports of bites to a human carries an exponentially higher occurrence rate than incidents between coyotes and humans.

Has your tracking system shown an increase in sightings?

The number of sighting reports provided over the last few years is:

2019: 428
2020: 716
2021: 528

Why do we consider locating a den a concern? Why do we consider coyotes in the community a concern?

We don’t consider the presence of coyotes or their dens, in our community, a concern as it is part of our natural environment. Reports of coyote sightings and their dens help the town provide additional support in these areas, including erecting barriers or ensuring additional public education and awareness. It takes an entire community to be aware and contribute to coexistence programs.

Why is the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) not present at this session?

The MNR has been present at public coyote meetings in the past to provide clarify on the limitations of relocating coyotes, however their role is relatively limited. Links to past meetings are available on the town’s Coyote page. The MNR is familiar with our programing, and we have utilized them as a resource through its development.

Are there more coyotes in Oakville now compared to 30 years ago?

Coyotes populations fluctuate year after year based on available resources such as food, water, and shelter. Our reporting tool, which was created in 2012, tracks sighting reports which does not accurately reflect the population of coyotes. Several reports for the same coyote will be reported potentially, multiple times per day. In addition, as we continue to promote the reporting tool year-after-year, more people will begin to use this tool.

Can we relocate known dens to a more rural area?

The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act does not permit any wildlife to be relocated more than one kilometre away from where it is captured. This is for various reasons including the safety of the wild animal and their ability to thrive based on the known surrounding resources of their environment. Most importantly, to help prevent the spread of diseases or illness between wildlife, across the province. Relocating coyotes is not an option.

Can we shoot coyotes?

There are federal and municipal laws in place that do not permit the discharge of firearms within town limits. These laws are in place for the safety of residents. In speaking with authorities, the risk of a stray bullet is far greater towards the community.

In addition, there are federal, provincial, and municipal laws that speak to causing or permitting distress to an animal, which includes wildlife. If done incorrectly, it could be a violation of the outlined legislations and could result in charges under those acts.

Can we cull the coyotes in Oakville? If we do will other’s take their place?

Studies have shown that expensive and inhumane culling efforts have historically proven to be unsuccessful for the following reasons:

  • Culling efforts can temporarily decrease population, but often have a rebound effect, which can lead to an increase in population
  • Coyotes reproduce based on resource and naturally, when they are not competing with each other for resources, they may have larger pup survival rates.
  • Culling encourages an instable coyote population where there may be unclaimed territory that has not been established.

Can coyotes jump fences and how high?

Yes, both coyotes and foxes are extremely agile and can scale fences easily. They can jump approximately four feet high and are able to climb fences that are much taller.

How do I keep coyotes out of my backyard? Is installing higher fences an option? What is your advice for letting my dog out in the evening?

The best form of protection for your pets is to monitor them when they are outside, not leave them unattended for long periods and to remove attractants such as water and food sources like birdseed and ripe/rotted fruit that has fallen to the ground. If a coyote is observed in or near your yard, practice humane hazing to scare the coyote and show them they are not welcome in your yard.

The town has a fencing by-law in place that limits the height of a fence to two metres or 2.2 metres with lattice. There are also components of the Property Standards By-law that restricts the ability to erect a fence that can cause harm. There is a process in place if you are looking to install a fence higher than what is permitted through a fence variance however, installing higher fences is not a failsafe option and will not prevent coyotes from accessing your yard.

Do coyotes stay within their own boundaries?

Coyotes do establish a home range where resources are available. They will travel far distances to establish this range and are respectful to other non-family territories by staying within their own area.

Is there a benefit to coexist with coyotes?

Coyotes are part of our urban environment, and they provide several ecological benefits such as population control of small rodents. This helps limit the transfer of zoonotic diseases (diseases transferred from animals to humans). They are a keystone species, and the presence of coyotes is indicative of a thriving ecosystem.

Coexistence is our reality, and it is a continued community effort. With the tools and resources we have provided, we can continue to set our boundaries with the coyotes to ensure that any conditioned behaviour due to feeding or other factors can be addressed and solved.

Has the wildlife population increased? If so, why? What has changed?

There is no scientific or current data that accurately reflects wildlife population in Ontario.  We do know that wildlife populations will fluctuate based on the resources available to them. This includes food, water, and shelter. If there is an abundance of resources available, the wildlife population will reflect this. We speculate that there may be an impact on reported sightings during the pandemic as activities were limited and individuals may have been more present in nature.

Past meetings and announcements

  • Virtual Coyote Information Night - March 31, 2022
  • Virtual Coyote Information Night – March 31, 2021
  • Town of Oakville implements new Coyote Education and Response Procedure – June 23, 2020

Additional links and resources

  • Coyotes in the Urban Landscape eLearning Module
  • Coyote hazing video
  • How to avoid negative experiences with coyotes in the winter (pdf)
  • How to avoid negative experiences with coyotes in the spring (pdf)
  • Living with Coyotes fact sheet (pdf)
  • Report a coyote sighting
  • Oakville & Milton Human Society
  • Coyote sighting map
  • Coyote Watch Canada
  • Project Coyote
  • Urban Coyote Initiatives

How to find us

  • Contact us
  • 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario
  • 905-845-6601

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