How to Keep the Family Pet Safe this Winter from Coyotes
HAMILTON, ON – We all love to be close to nature, either by walking along a trail, near the Escarpment or a forest. We even locate our homes to back onto ravines and forested areas to enjoy the wilderness. The challenge is that sometimes, this closeness to nature requires some thought and precaution if you own a pet.
Hamilton is a city that has coyotes. They are non-confrontational by nature and very curious. They are, by and large, shy animals who avoid conflict and are typically not considered to be a high risk for rabies. While the coyotes sighting this year are on par from those of last year, with 317 sighted compared to 479 sighted, there have been some attacks on pets. These animals can live very close to humans and never be seen. The lack of leaves on the trees, in the winter time, lends itself to more sightings but coyotes are present all year round.
“We ask residents to take some reasonable precautions when out walking their dog. Avoid letting your pet off leash to roam freely while you walk. Keep your pet leashed and near you. Avoid walking your dog during heightened coyote activity times, which is dusk and dawn,” said Ken Leendertse, Director of Licensing and By-law Services.
Quick Facts
Overall:
- If you are approached by a coyote, stretch out your arms and legs to make yourself appear larger and make loud noises
- You can also deter a coyote from approaching by carrying a flashlight and flashing it in their eyes or carrying an umbrella and opening and closing the umbrella
- Carry a whistle and blow it very loudly and continuously
- Stay calm and never run; coyotes can run for long periods of time and can cover a range of 10 -15 km easily
- Carry a cell phone to call for help if needed
- Don’t leave small children, cats or other pets unattended in yards where there is known coyote activity
Some Notes About Coyotes:
- Have a keen sense of smell, hearing and sight
- Intelligent and adaptable – which means leaving out food or unsecured garbage may draw them to this easy food source again and again
- Being intelligent animals, they have adapted readily to life in the city
- They do not hibernate and it is not uncommon to see them during winter months
- They are neither nocturnal nor diurnal, so it’s not uncommon to see them day or night
- Are very smart and adaptable to their surroundings
- A single male and female form the basic social unit
- Eat small mammals and rodents such as mice, rabbits, shrews, and small foxes and do play an important role in natural rodent control
- No known enemies other than humans
- Prefer a habitat of mixed farm areas, swampland, parks and park-like valleys
- Live in secluded locations along stream banks, ravines or sandy ridges often use old den sites of foxes and groundhogs
- Range in colour from brown, blonde to red and a ‘pack’ is generally a group of siblings.
- Breed from late January – March
- Produce a litter of anywhere from 1 -12 young and have a 60-63 day gestation period
- Leave their den to begin to explore around 3-4 weeks of age and generally stay with their parents until the Fall
- Adults weigh between 35-60 lbs and will live in the wild anywhere from 6-8 years
Coyote Proofing:
- Don’t condition coyotes to live in close proximity to you by leaving out food for them or any wildlife or having unsecured garbage
- Keep your trash in closed containers and don’t forget, those bird feeders are also going to attract other wildlife, which in turn may attract coyotes
- Help restrict their access to food and shelter that is not natural for them
- Keep your cat indoors
Abnormal Coyote Behaviour:
- Never approach a sick coyote on your own
- Acts confused or disoriented
- Attempts to fight with or attack non-living objects
- Physically limping or appearing to be paralyzed or dragging rear legs
- Emerges from a protected and safe park or ravine area into a home or building, or to a barn where livestock are housed
- Coyotes may have large areas of missing fur and heavily crusted areas on the legs that may be cracked and bleeding. This condition is called mange and it is contagious among other coyotes. It is caused by a mange mite and is virtually impossible to treat in wild populations
See a sick of injured wild animal?
Please call Hamilton Animal Services. Officers are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you have concerns about wildlife, please call directly to: 905-574-3433