Errol Johnson knew that running a pest service he would deal with possums, raccoons and stray cats, but he never expected to add coyotes to the list.
“I just saw a coyote a few weeks ago walking up to my street. You are seeing more and more of them every day,” Johnson said.
The owner of Genesis Lawn and Maintenance Services has been bombarded with neighbourhood complaints of coyotes roaming the streets in his Brampton community.
He said coyotes are not animals he wants to encounter.
“My neighbours have seen them come right up onto their property. They are getting very desperate,” he said.
Coyote sightings have become more frequent. Human and dog attacks are being reported to wildlife protection services such as municipal humane societies and the Ontario Wildlife Rescue.
“Coyotes aren’t just the average obedient dog that you keep in your house,” Johnson said. “They are the wild cousin that comes over and wrecks everything in sight.”
The City of Toronto said in a news release that coyotes are not generally a threat to people, and usually only pose a threat to pets such as cats and small dogs. However, if not handled properly, they might act aggressively toward humans.
Two people were attacked in a park in North York in October, a three-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl were attacked in Oshawa on two separate occasions this summer and a young girl was chased by a coyote in Scarborough after it attacked her dog.
“Coyotes are naturally timid and flee when confronted aggressively,” the city statement said. “Never run away from a coyote. Avoid turning your back, maintain eye contact and slowly back away.”
Peel SPCA has outlined coyote precautions such as making sure small dogs are never left unattended and how to keep them off your property. They also outline what to do and what not to do upon seeing a coyote.
“We often see conflicts when people feed them. Each situation is unique, though,” said Lia Laskaris, treasurer for the Animal Protection Party of Canada.
The party is committed to protecting and preserving the rights of all animals. They hope to make the world a place where humans and animals coexist without the fear of violence or hostility. While fear is expected, one should never try to hurt a coyote.
Coyotes are on the move because of deforestation along with commercial and residential developments. Humans have wiped out their natural habitats and food supplies, leaving them searching for other means to survive.
Coyote Watch Canada reports that what people believe to be multiple sightings are often the same coyote in search of food. Invitations such as overflowing garbage, open compost bags, and bird feeders attract a various range of prey. Coyotes will see this as a free dinner and will continue to visit the same spot.
Johnson has seen multiple instances of this lately.
“If you are starving and you know there is a place you can always get food, wouldn’t you keep going back?” he said. Coyotes have been seen knocking over garbage bins and searching for small dogs in his area, and Johnson said he understands why the coyotes are searching.
“Feeding wild animals, including coyotes, is detrimental and can create problems for the neighbourhood,” the City of Toronto said.
While there are many protections put in place for humans, no one protects the animals. Though coyotes are considered wild animals, what humans need to remember is that they were here before the roads, buildings, and shopping malls.
“They’re hungry. We can’t ruin their homes and then wonder why they come wandering into ours,” Johnson said. “We need to coexist otherwise the food chain is about to change in a way that doesn’t put us at the top.”