Page 1 of Report PB-90-15

TO: Development and Infrastructure Committee

FROM: Planning and Building
SUBJECT: Report recommending approval of Coyote Response
Strategy

Report Number: PB-90-15 Wards Affected: All

File Numbers: 715-1

Date to Committee: November 9, 2015 Date to Council: November 23, 2015

Recommendation:
Approve the Coyote Response Strategy, attached as Appendix “A”, “B” and “C” to
planning and building department report PB-90-15.

Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to report back to the Development and Infrastructure
Committee with a Coyote Response Strategy with an escalation process that will
become part of the policies and procedures of the Animal Control Procedures Manual.

Background:
At the September 14, 2015 Development and Infrastructure Committee meeting, PB-62-
15, a report providing options regarding the feasibility of creating a by-law prohibiting
the feeding of wildlife was approved with an amendment in reference to Trumpeter
Swans. Staff was directed to report back to the Development and Infrastructure
Committee meeting with a more detailed Coyote Response Strategy for Committee to
approve as a guideline for staff to use when dealing with problem coyotes.
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Strategy/Process
The goal of a Coyote Response Strategy is to support coexistence with urban coyotes
using education, behaviour modification and development of a tiered response to
aggressive coyote behavior. The tiered response requires active participation on the
part of the entire community including residents, homeowners, volunteers, Ministry of
Natural Resources and Forestry, Halton Regional Police Services and city staff.

Staff has surveyed surrounding municipalities regarding coyote management plans. It

was found that there are a variety of methodologies in dealing with coyotes that have
become habituated or aggressive. Each plan reflects the needs of the community and is
very similar in their approach to education and coexisting with coyotes.

Municipality Coyote Management Plan Formalized escalated

response strategy
Town of Oakville Yes No
City of Hamilton Yes No
City of Mississauga Yes No
City of Brampton Yes No
Town of Milton No No
Town of Halton Hills No No

Most communities in Ontario follow the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
(MNRF) guidelines on preventing and managing conflict with coyotes. These guidelines
include what to do if you encounter a coyote, how to make your property unwelcome
and how to prevent conflict with dogs. Tiered response strategies are more common in
the United States with municipalities providing guidance for appropriate levels of
response to varying types of coyote activity and/or interactions.

The Humane Society of the United States has developed a coyote management and
coexistence plan that has been prepared for use by communities across North America,
(including, but not limited to, cities, villages, towns, counties, homeowners associations,
etc.) in humanely and effectively preventing and solving conflicts among coyotes,
people and companion animals. The information in these plans has been gathered from
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scientific and peer-reviewed articles, from experts in the field of human-coyote conflict
resolution, and from successful coyote management plans across North America.

The goal of the template coyote management and coexistence plan is to provide a
program for reducing human-coyote conflicts while prioritizing human safety. The
actions outlined in this plan are designed to increase citizens’ knowledge and
understanding of how coyotes behave and make clear how such behavior can be
managed to reduce or eliminate conflicts with coyotes. Staff have modified and
amended the strategy to fit the needs of the City of Burlington. The following are two
types of coyote interactions and responses that make up part of the Coyote Response
Strategy and attached as “Appendix “A”, “B” and “C” of report PB-90-15;

Coyote behavior Classification Response

Coyote heard; scat or prints Observation Distribute educational materials and information on
seen normal coyote behavior.

Coyote entering yard with Encounter Gather information on specific animals involved and
people and pets, no pet attack report circumstances. Education coyote attractants and
occurring pet management provide hazing information and yard
audit.

Lethal responses (coyote removal) should be considered only in the event of an

unprovoked, confirmed attack on a human. If implemented, lethal control efforts should
focus on the offending coyote(s) only, rather than the coyote population at large. This
requires significant surveillance efforts to make sure that the correct animal(s) is
targeted and removed.

Human-coyote interactions must be documented to identify where coyotes are

frequently seen, to count how many coyotes are within an area and to identify human-
coyote conflict hotspots. Gathering specific data on incidents will allow for targeting of
educational campaigns and conflict mitigation efforts, as well as the ability to measure
success in reducing conflicts over time. (To become a performance measure in the
2015-2018 Animal Control Business Plan)
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Financial Matters:
Coyotes are intelligent animals and are difficult to catch. Even a skilled trapper will need
many hours to catch a targeted coyote, thus the cost would increase with the time spent
to trap the coyote. Costs could range from $200.00 to $10,000.00 especially if the trap
is to be monitored 24 hours a day. (Trap would have to be monitored if it is located on
public property).

Environmental Matters:
Coyotes play an important ecological role in maintaining diversity of species and the
health and integrity of a variety of ecosystems. Coyotes can have a top-down effect on
ecosystems by regulating the numbers of other animals, such as foxes, raccoons,
skunks, and feral cats through competitive exclusion and direct killing. Coyote
management plans hope to achieve a balance between the importance of human safety
and the role coyotes play in our local ecosystems.

Public Engagement Matters:

There has been extensive consultation with the public over the past few years, through
town hall meetings, educational brochures and traditional and social media to provide
information on coyote management. The final result has been the approval of a by-law
to prohibit the feeding of wildlife on public property by-law 83-2015 and the development
of the Coyote Strategy Plan, attached as Appendix “A”, “B” and “C” being presented to
committee for approval. Staff will educate the public on the coyote response strategy
through media releases, newspapers and educational brochures and campaigns
throughout the year.

Conclusion:
This report presents a Coyote Response Strategy providing a tiered response for all
interactions with coyotes, up to and including a confirmed attack on a human. Staff
recommends approval of the strategy, attached as Appendix “A”, “B” and “C” to report
PB-90-15.
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Respectfully submitted,

Tracey Burrows, Manager - By-law Enforcement & Licencing

335 7600 ext.7628

Appendices:
a. Coyote Response Strategy
b. Coyote Incident Report Form
c. Coyote Yard Audit Checklist

Notifications: (after Council decision)

Name: Mailing or E-mail Address:
Eleanor McMahon, MPP Emcmahon.mpp.ca@liberal.ola.org
Elizabeth Stanley Elizabeth.Stanley@ontario.ca
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Stephen White Planning to provide

Approved by:
Nancy Shea Nicol, Director of Legal Services & City Solicitor
Scott Stewart, General Manager of Dev. and Infrastructure
James Ridge, City Manager

Reviewed by: