Corp Comm Connects

Vaughan coyote resolution suggests changing legislation, hiring staff

Coun. Alan Shefman's resolution to deal with Thornhill’s coyote population passes at Vaughan Council’s committee meeting

Yorkregion.com
June 15, 2020
Simone Joseph

A resolution to deal with Thornhill’s coyote population passed at a Vaughan Council’s committee meeting Tuesday.

Coun. Alan Shefman’s resolution suggested creating a temporary Vaughan staff position dedicated to the coyote problem.

 “There are limitations to how far we could stretch staff,” he said, referring to Vaughan’s Animal Services department.

Shefman wants to change the provincial act governing wildlife.

“It hasn’t been updated to address the issue of the growing numbers of wildlife found in an urban setting.”

Shefman suggests Thornhill MPP Gila Martow introduce a private member’s bill.

Currently, trapped coyotes must be released within a kilometre of where they were caught. The problem: “You know how fast that animal will be back where it normally hangs out?” Shefman said.

Some residents have been extremely disturbed by the presence of the coyotes. Others have written to Shefman, concerned for the coyotes’ safety.

The coyote issue came to Shefman’s attention around December or January.

“We want them out of our communities,” Shefman said, but acknowledged Vaughan’s animal services is already busy.

Residents are told to react to coyotes by hazing (making noise and waving arms).

This doesn’t always work. Martow received an email from a woman relating her husband and seven-year-old son’s experiences bicycle riding in Thornhill’s Oakbank Pond area near Centre Street.

Her husband spotted a coyote with a dead rabbit in its mouth running toward them. Minutes later, another coyote ran toward them. Her husband made noises, but the coyote was unperturbed, continuing its vigorous run toward them. He picked up his son on his bicycle and ran across Centre Street to stop the coyote’s pursuit of them.

 The woman wished to remain anonymous but wrote this: “You have a serious problem in Thornhill. Are you waiting for something serious like a resident being mauled or hit by a car to happen before you act?"

Thornhill resident Tzivyah Starr believes coyotes are more comfortable with humans than in the past.

“These animals are so comfortable, someone’s going to get hurt,” she said. “I never used to walk with a (dog) stroller and hockey stick. It’s crazy. I feel like I have to do all that.”

Coyotes have a natural migration. As for relocation, it is not effective, said Lesley Sampson, founding executive director of Coyote Watch Canada, which helps with coyote education, enforcement and safety.

There’s a good reason coyotes focus on dogs, she said. If domestic dogs are around, a coyote views them as a predator, a threat and danger.

Vaughan’s animal services issued this statement: “Attempting to reduce or eradicate coyote populations from an urban area is ineffective and shown to (over time) contribute to increasing coyote populations.”

Martow outlines the problem. “This year, coyotes lost their fear of humans. They are aggressive. Someone’s feeding them. They don’t see humans as a threat.”

 Coyotes have changed some residents’ behaviour. Some say they can’t put their dogs in their backyard, others say they won’t go for walks without being armed.

Martow says she’s happy to advocate and change legislation.

This is not a few people who are scared, Martow said.

“These are a few hundred people who are terrified.”

Councillor Shefman’s resolution is expected to be approved at the next Vaughan council meeting Monday, June 29 at 2 p.m.

These are coyote-related tips from the Province of Ontario:

If you encounter one:

How to make your property uninviting:

How to prevent conflicts with dogs:

For more tips and information, visit www.ontario.ca/page/preventing-and-managing-conflicts-coyotes-wolves-and-foxes.