Coyote jumps fence in Burlington, killing beloved family poodle

Enough is enough for many residents of Bronte and southeast Burlington who are fed up with what they call an alarming and skyrocketing coyote population.

They are becoming bolder, more comfortable around humans, even travelling during the daytime in our neighbourhoods," reads a poster being distributed throughout the cross-border areas by a newly-formed committee of concerned residents. It goes on to state: "Not only are they attacking our pets while we are with them, but they are also jumping six-foot fences to steal our pets from our backyards."

A week before Christmas, just before midnight, Burlington's Heidi Lindop let her 12-pound toy poodle out into the fenced backyard of her home in the Appleby Line and Lakeshore Road area for a quick bathroom break."

Kodi was within 12 feet of the house when Lindop spotted a coyote circling the 18-month-old pup through her kitchen window.

The coyote not only jumped the Lindop's four-foot fence with Kodi, but had no trouble clearing" a neighbour's six-foot backyard fence heading toward Lakeshore Road.

The death of the beloved family pet prompted Lindop, her daughter, Renata, and Oakville's Julie Martin, to form Halton Residents for Better Coyote Management. Their first order of business was to launch a petition to have the coyotes relocated, and is directed to Oakville Mayor Rob Burton and Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward. www.change.org/haltonresidentsforbettercoyotemanagement

Enough with the education, pamphlets and patsy responses from the municipal government," states the petition. It goes on to say: "We know what we should do if we encounter a coyote. What we cannot deal with is the number of them encroaching upon our residential neighbourhoods and backyards. While the nature trails may be coyote territory, backyards are not,

Sightings is one thing, a little sign in the park is another, but I think people should know when dogs have been killed or if coyotes have been dangerous toward people," said Renata.

According to Burlington's Animal Services staff, there were not more calls or complaints about coyote sightings anywhere in the city in 2020 versus 2019; last year there were 33.

Coyotes are a common sight throughout Oakville, although they may be more visible near the parks and wooded areas that south Oakville offers, said Margaret Boswell, the town's supervisor of enforcement services.

Coyotes may also become more visible in the winter as they seek mates, while their interaction with humans and pets is commonly caused by inappropriate feeding by people, said Boswell.

While Oakville's coyote reporting map might show increased sightings in an area, it is often due to multiple reports of the same coyote and does not necessarily mean the coyote population is growing in that area, added Boswell.

The town works with the Oakville & Milton Humane Society to investigate human/pet and coyote interactions, identify potential coyote hot spots and provide education to residents, said Boswell, adding that the town does not keep records of cat and dog fatalities.

I just want to know where do you draw the line? We are being told to live in harmony with them," respect their space and keep a distance, but this is not preventive," said Renata. They are getting too comfortable in urbanized areas, they are getting too comfortable walking near people, jumping into backyards and they are getting comfortable in daylight hours."

Just across the border in neighbouring Bronte, Martin is fed up with hearing stories of pets lost to coyotes in her community and in the west end of Burlington, stretching along Lake Ontario where the Lindops live.

It's unreal in this area," said Martin, owner of two small Morkies (cross between a Maltese and Yorkshire terrier). It's getting worse. I'm really angry. I'm angry that every time I go for a walk with my dogs, I'm on edge. I'm also upset that every time I let my dogs out in the backyard, I have to scope out my backyard and stand there until they are ready to come in."

For more information on the town's coyote awareness program, go to https://bit.ly/3iqJ4R0