Co-Existing with

Coyotes

Coyotes in the city? Coyotes are an extremely adaptable wildlife species that survives well in urban environments.

Coyotes were first spotted in Vancouver in the late 1980’s and have been seen regularly around Queen Elizabeth, Everett Crowley and Stanley Park, UBC, Trout Lake and on local golf courses. They can, however, be found in any neighbourhood - including yours! Report your coyote sighting to 604-681-9453.

What do coyotes look like? • large erect ears, narrow muzzles

and golden brown eyes • bushy tails held down when in

motion • reddish-yellow, tan or grey

general appearance • bib-like patch of white fur around

lower jaw and neck • darker grey and black hairs on

upper body and lighter cream-coloured undersides • Vancouver coyotes weigh

between 9-18 kg (20-40 lbs) • they often appear heavier due to

a thick, double coat of fur

Why are they here?

Coyote habitat in the city = Coyotes in the city

Many people believe coyotes are in Vancouver because we have “taken over their home." Actually, we have created habitat for coyotes by expanding urban areas. Large rodent populations, accessible garbage and plenty of green spaces are all reasons why coyotes call Vancouver home.

How many are there?

Estimates suggest there are 200 to 300 coyotes in the City of Vancouver, and between 2000 and 3000 in the Lower Fraser Valley. Population levels are stable and are not subject to great fluctuations.

What do they eat?

In rural and wild environments, up to 70% of a coyote’s diet consists of small mammals (mice, voles, rabbits, etc.). The remaining 30% is a combination of fruits, vegetables, insects, fish, birds, eggs and other available items. In urban areas, such as Vancouver,coyotes also eat rats, squirrels, garbage, yard fruit and small domestic pets.

When are coyotes most active? Coyotes can be active anytime of day or night. Coyote young are born in the spring, and food requirements of the nursing females and growing young remain high until late summer. At the same time, people and their pets spend more time outdoors as the weather becomes warmer. Therefore, the possibility of a coyote encounter during summer increases.

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Co-Existing with Coyotes Co-Existing with Coyotes was developed in response to increasing public demand for information about coyotes in the Lower Mainland. The program aims to reduce conflict between people, pets and coyotes by providing accessible and useful information about urban coyotes.

For more information

Information Line:

604-681-WILD (9453)

Website:

www.stanleyparkecology.ca

E-mail:

coyotes@stanleyparkecology.ca

Partners

The Stanley Park Ecology Society (SPES) is a community based,

not-for-profit organization dedicated to encouraging stewardship of our natural world through environmental education and action.

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Stanley Park Ecology Society PO Box 5167, Vancouver BC, V6B 4B2

(604) 257-6908 www.stanleyparkecology.ca

Printed July 2008

A fed coyote is a dead coyote

Coyotes have adequate food supplies and are capable of surviving in the city without our help. In fact, by feeding coyotes you put yourself, your neighbourhood and the coyote at risk. A coyote that becomes dependent on humans for food may become aggressive, bite someone and have to be destroyed. Feeding and intentionally attracting coyotes is prohibited by sections 33.1 and 88.1 of the Provincial Wildlife Act and punishable by a $345 fine.

Be prepared!

If you are concerned about encountering an aggressive coyote, you may want to keep a deterrent handy. Deterrents can include rocks, pots and pans, tennis balls, tin cans, vinegar in a super-soaker and pepper spray; you should use whatever feels most comfortable.

If a coyote approaches you:

• Be as Big, Mean and Loud as possible • Make yourself appear larger (stand up if sitting) • Wave your arms and throw objects (not food) at the coyote - use

your deterrent • Shout in a deep, loud and aggressive voice • If the coyote continues to approach, DO NOT RUN or turn your

back on the coyote but continue to exaggerate the above gestures

Coyotes and people ...

When are coyotes a risk to people?

Although naturally curious, coyotes are timid animals that normally run away if challenged. Coyotes can be a risk to people if they become comfortable around humans, usually as a result of feeding. It is not normal for coyotes to attack or pursue humans, especially adults; it is a learned response to human behaviour. You can discourage coyotes from feeling comfortable around you by responding to their presence and eliminating coyote attractants (food sources) from your yard and neighbourhood.

Rabies has never been found in the B.C. coyote population.

Coyote attractants in your neighbourhood Coyotes should not feel comfortable around people or their homes. If you see a coyote in your neighbourhood, you should do your best to make it feel unwelcome. If a coyote is comfortable in your neighbour’s yard it is also comfortable in your yard, around your children and your pets. You can discourage coyotes from hanging around your home by scaring coyotes off your property and by removing coyote attractants, such as:

• Accessible garbage or compost • Outdoor pet food and water (stored or fed) • Fruit that has fallen from trees or shrubs • Rodent habitat such as neglected yards, garages or sheds • Any of the above in your neighbour’s yard or in your

neighbourhood

You can also erect a 2 metre high fence to discourage coyotes from entering your yard. Remember that fences need to be flush to the ground and kept in good condition.

Coyotes and pets...

Keeping our pets safe Recognizing the risk is the first step towards preventing conflict between coyotes and your pet. Some coyotes will prey on outdoor cats and small dogs. Pets have been taken from backyards, open spaces and even right off the leash. There are, however, some things you can do to reduce the risk to your pets.

If you own a cat

The only way to guarantee your cats' safety is to keep it indoors. Removing coyote attractants from your yard and neighbourhood will reduce the probability of a coyote visiting your home. Some owners ensure their cats' safety by building outdoor cat runs. Outdoor cats also face potential death from cars, diseases, parasites, raccoons and dogs, in addition to coyotes.

If you own a small dog

If you are aware of coyotes in your neighbourhood you can greatly reduce the risk of conflict if you: • Keep your dog on a short leash while outside • Avoid extension leashes • Supervise your dog when it is off-leash in the yard • Walk your dog at times and places that coincide with high

pedestrian traffic • Keep your dog in front of you; if your dog stops, keep an

eye on it • Dog walk with a friend or relative

If you own a large dog

Coyotes pose very little risk to medium sized to large dogs. Keep large dogs on leash, except in designated areas, and discourage your dog from feeling comfortable with coyotes by preventing it from “playing” or interacting with a coyote.

Why Co-Exist?

Coyotes have adapted to urban lifestyles because city environments support them. Coyotes continue to feedprimarily on the millions of mice and rats in the Lower Mainland and are just one part of our diverse ecosystem. Eradication programs in North American cities have proven expensive failures. While eradication may remove (kill) individual animals, the coyote habitat remains. Trapping and poisoning programs are not practical for urban centres because they can not discriminate between coyotes, children, pets and other wildlife - exposing all of them to the same risk. Coexistence is not an option if an individual coyote has threatened a person. The aggressive coyote will be removed from the area by a conservation officer. Although the aggressive coyote has been removed, the environment and human behaviour that led to the coyote’s actions remain. If people continue to feed coyotes and allow them tofeel comfortable around their homes, people and pets, problem coyotes will occur again and again.

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Conflicts with coyotes in B.C.

Conflicts between people and coyotes in B.C.are very rare.

• Only a handful of people have ever reported coyote bites in B.C. - There were no reported coyote bites between 2002 and 2008.

• The majority of coyotes that have bitten people have been fed by people.

In comparison: • On average, close to 90 British Columbians are

hospitalised (minimum overnight stay / not including emergency room visits) due to domestic dog bites each year.

Report aggressive coyotes

Aggressive coyotes should be immediately reported to the Ministry of Environment at 1-877-952-RAPP (7277) and the Co-Existing with Coyotes Info Line at 604-681-WILD (9453).

If a coyote behaves aggressively towards humans, it will be destroyedby conservation officers.

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