'Fear, frustration, and angst': NOTL's coyote info session focuses on safety and prevention

Amid continuing worries about problematic coyotes in Niagara-on-the-Lake, regional coyote experts are reiterating to the public what needs to be done to solve the problem and keep everyone - humans and animals - safe.

The town hosted a virtual information session on Wednesday, April 27 evening, to talk about coyote safety and shared what local and regional wildlife experts are doing to keep them from roaming Niagara-on-the-Lake's neighbourhoods - and, in some cases, trying to attack people's pets.

"There's fear, frustration and angst in the community," said the town's chief administrative officer Marnie Cluckie during the session.

Questions were submitted beforehand by residents, many of whom were concerned with the safety of themselves, pets and neighbours. However, the information presenter was dedicated to painting a detailed, nuanced portrayal of the eastern coyotes that have been part of the Niagara region for hundreds of years.

The coyote that lives in the wilds of our minds is not the coyote that roams North America," said Lesley Sampson, Coyote Watch Canada's founding executive director, introducing the presentation she gave to a little more than 240 people who tuned into the livestream.

Sampson, along with representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Lincoln County Humane Society, and the Niagara Region Police Service, emphasized that education about best safety practices, and cutting off their food supplies in town is Niagara-on-the-Lake's best bet going forward.

Coexistence is about setting healthy boundaries," Sampson said. That is the long-term, sustainable solution."

The town's wildlife partners are still working to limit the direct or indirect food sources for coyotes in town, whether it's people feeding them, leaving garbage bags and overflowing bird feeders outside (which attract animals coyotes like to hunt, like rodents and squirrels), or leaving small dogs (which they can consider prey) unattended.

Sampson said she and the other experts still aren't sure if the alarming confrontations some have had with coyotes in Old Town are the cause of one or two bad actors."

Under current provincial rules, anyone who believes a coyote is damaging or going to damage their property can, on their own land, harass or kill it - however, you are not allowed to kill a coyote outside of this circumstance.

Plus, killing a coyote, Sampson said, won't necessarily solve the issue, nor will relocating one: another coyote can move in to claim its spot.

Trapping them won't solve the problem," said David Denyes, fish and wildlife technical specialist with the ministry. It's important to look at the root problem."

On April 25, council approved updates to the town's canine management plan. Currently, the bylaw prohibits people from placing food or water on any public or private property for the purpose of" attracting or feeding animals. There is a $250 fine associated with these actions.

The approved update prohibits feeding wildlife regardless of the person's intent, widening responsibility for property owners and occupiers.

Cluckie said limiting food sources and aversion conditioning are strategies that were successfully applied, in recent years, in Thorold, Oakville, Mississauga, and Collingwood.

Councillor Clare Cameron brought up concerns from some residents who, Cameron said, have felt the coyotes are being prioritized over the safety of humans.

I can imagine how scary this is," Cluckie said. We are not putting the safety of the coyote above (humans) ... We're just recognizing what has been effective in the past and what has been ineffective."

For more information, check out the recorded information session at livestream.com/notl and notl.com/coyotes.