Encountering coyotes in the city

Wildwood

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 18/01/2023 (1230 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Coyotes live in and around Winnipeg and, while coyote attacks on people or pets are rare, we should all take steps to co-exist safely with these creatures.

Samantha Fowler’s 2022 article “Coyotes: Coming to a Town Near You?”, published at letstalkscience.ca, says coyote populations are increasing across North and South America, and they adapt easily to life in or near towns. Coyotes are omnivores which eat a variety of food types.

I recently saw coyotes on two different occasions. One was running on the iced-over Red River during daylight hours. Another stood down a short hill down from me at night. It didn’t seem frightened and eventually meandered off.

After these sightings, I started wondering how safe I was enjoying the occasional evening stroll, cross-country ski, or exploring the pathways in the Wildwood area alone.

Just how dangerous are coyotes? Only two deaths of people attacked by coyotes have been recorded in the United States and Canada. The City of Winnipeg fact sheet “Coyotes in Winnipeg” says a Labrador retriever is twice the weight of a coyote, which has an average weight of 35 pounds. Coyotes are rarely heavier than 45 pounds. A cat or small dog may be seen as prey to a coyote.

Last fall, CTV News Winnipeg reported on four coyotes that pursued a man and his two large dogs near Bishop Grandin. In this report, a provincial spokesperson said Winnipeg generally has two to three reports of coyote attacks on dogs each year. All reported conflicts have involved the presence of a dog, and they recommended keeping dogs leashed.

Coyotes can be an issue if they become habituated to people. The Province of Manitoba’s “Coexisting with Coyotes” guides suggests giving coyotes an escape route and picking up small children or pets upon encountering a coyote. Coyotes occasionally approach or pursue people. “Haze” the animal, so they associate people with a threat.

Hazing includes maintaining eye contact, standing tall, making noise, and throwing rocks or other items. Upon an encounter, don’t run, but slowly back away while facing the animal. Also, report any incident of a coyote approaching a person to Conservation.

“Coyotes in Winnipeg” says to walk in busy areas and avoid walking between dusk and dawn. Avoid feeding wild animals such as rabbits and deer, as coyotes are attracted to feeding stations and may become habituated to people. Also, clean up yards of garbage, pet food, compost, and fallen fruit.