The Ministry of Natural Resources has released a fact sheet about coyotes in response to complaints about the animals in Eden Mills.
“We hear the coyotes every night,” said Eden Mills resident Jobst von Windheim.
He calls their presence “too close for comfort,” particularly since a few weeks ago, when two of them attacked his family’s cat in the driveway at about 10am.
He said his wife was able to save the cat by rushing the coyotes and screaming at them, but it cost about $450 in vet bills to save the cat’s life. It is now healing, he said, but added, “We don’t believe in keeping cats inside and declawed.”
Others have seen the coyotes besides von Windheim. He said his neighbours like to bike, and they saw a pair of coyotes running in front of their bicycles as they cycled down park Street, close to the ball dia-mond.
Leon and Dianne Bradshaw tried to get a good look at the animals as they biked.
Dianne Bradshaw said in an interview, “We hear the coyotes every night. They’re definitely here.”
She and her husband were biking on Indian Trail on a night she called “buggy” and two coyotes ran out of the bush in front of them, and down the road. Dianne Bradshaw said her husband tried to get as close as possible to them, while she asked a number of questions and kept up a running commentary.
The animals later disappeared into another bush, but Bradshaw got a good look at them. She said they were “very thin, very tall, with long legs” and they were also “scraggy – like a dog that hasn’t been groomed forever.”
She is aware of the attack on von Windheim’s cat.
Von Windheim said of the coyotes, “People say they don’t attack humans. But all people should be made aware there is a problem.”
He has lived in the area for many years. He began faming outside of Rockwood in 1978 and moved into Eden Mills six years ago. He said he is a hunter, and is quite familiar wit the local habitat.
Brad Gerrie, the Regional Operations Manager for the Enforcement Branch of the Ministry of Natural Resources said in an interview that coyotes, like other parts of nature, have populations that are cyclical.
“They occur naturally,” he said. “The population rises and falls based on the population of their prey. They don’t generally cause problems.
With the abundance of food from the rainy weather this year, coyote prey, rabbits and mice, had heavily expanded populations, and coyotes simply followed suit.
Von Windheim said the fact sheet that was sent to him by the MNR when he complained carries some good ideas to discourage coyotes, which become a problem in Wellington County every few years.
Gerrie said when the prey population falls, mange tends to wipe out the expanded coyote populations until the cycle begins again.
“It’s Mother Nature,” he said. “It goes up and down.
Michelle Bonaldo, of the MNR, sent the following information about coyotes.
Coyotes, like other wild animals, sometimes come into conflict with human activities.
Changes in land use, agricultural practices, weather, and natural food shortages may contribute to increased coyote sightings in rural and near-urban settings. In years when natural food sources are scarce (i.e., mice, voles, rabbit, etc.) coyotes will travel more in search for food.
Coyotes are often in search of prey when they are observed in rural and near urban settings.
To reduce the potential for coyote encounters, the Ministry of Natural Resources has these tips for the public.
Secure garbage and pet food
– Properly stored and maintained garbage containers will help prevent coyotes (as well as raccoons, skunks, bears, cats and dogs) from becoming a problem.
– Proper waste management also discourages the presence of small rodents, which are an important food source for coyotes.
– Keeping pet food indoors will prevent coyotes and other animals from being attracted to your property. Keep all pets on leashes or confined to a yard
– Allowing pets to roam at large increases their risk of injury by other domestic animals, automobiles and wild animals such as coyotes. Do not approach or feed coyotes
– Coyotes are wild animals, but can become less fearful of humans if they associate us and our surroundings with food sources.
– Teach children not to approach or harass any wild animals or unfamiliar domestic pets.
Keep coyotes away:
– Generally, coyotes do not pose a threat to human safety. However, whistles and personal alarm devices can be used to frighten an approaching or threatening animal.
Use motion-sensitive lights in yards or gardens:
– Well-lit yards or the use of motion-sensitive lighting may make your property less attractive to coyotes and other nocturnal wildlife. In some circumstances, electric fencing could also help deter wildlife.
Prevent predation on livestock:
– Barns or sheds can provide effective protection from coyote predation for livestock that bed inside or nearby at night. Dead livestock should not be left near pastures or in accessible composts, as it encourages predation behaviour by coyotes.
– Guard animals, such as donkeys, llamas, and guard dogs can be a cost-effective solution toward the protection of livestock from coyotes. Guard animals will develop a bond with livestock if they are slowly integrated with other livestock, and will aggressively repel predators.
For more information on preventing livestock predation, please visit the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) website at www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/livestock/sheep/predator.html.
To learn more about coyotes, including how to deal with coyote problems, call your local Ministry of Natural Resources district office. If the coyote poses an immediate threat or danger to public safety, call 9-1-1.
