By Pepper Parr
September 15th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
Much of the Standing Committee meeting yesterday focused on the coyote problem.
Executive Director Sheila Jones – will be on top of every decision made as the city moves into over-drive to find solutions to what is described as a crisis.
City Manager Tim Commisso has gotten the message – there is a crisis and all hands are going to be on deck to resolve it – and it is going to be expensive.
We were told that this was the number 1 issue facing the city administration. Those words came from City Manager Tim Commisso and Executive Director Sheila Jones.
Stephen White, who delegated yesterday on just how serious the problem is would not argue with those statements – he just wishes they had been made and acted upon more than a year ago when he was trying very hard to get the ear of the administration.
What became evident during the meeting was that the problem we are facing is one that we brought on ourselves.
People have been feeding the coyotes and as a result rogue coyotes are not as afraid of human beings as they are naturally.
While it is difficult to know how many people are actually feeding the animals – and let us be clear – coyotes are animals – they are not pets.
They need to be controlled in a way that deters the behaviour we are now experiencing.
The city is looking into higher fines (the current find is $150) and talking about a fine that is a minimum of $5000 and a maximum of $100,000
Extreme – yes. The death of a child will be seen as a tragedy and that is a possibility.
The city now has full time support in tracking down what is believed to be a second rogue coyote.
What was also learned is that it is important for people to report their sightings of coyotes. Call Burlington Animal Services at 905-335-3030 to report where you saw a coyote
It is important for the people working at solving this problem and changing the behaviour of the animals is to know and understand any changes in the patterns of their behaviour.
Six attacks on people to date. The belief is that there is a second and maybe a third coyote attacking people.
Where are the coyotes? Where are the attacks taking place.
Representative was before Council for close to two hours with two messages: Stop feeding the coyotes and report when you see a coyote.
Have the movements of the coyotes ? Without data we don’t know. That data has to come from the public.
If you see them – report it.
Council debated a number of issues. There will be more bylaw officers. Getting that issue on the table was a little awkward – this council cannot bind the next council to any decisions they make. Hiring by law officers takes time.
Council heard a delegation from a Coyote Watch who was at the podium for a couple of hours. More on that in a separate report.
For the moment:
Don’t feed the coyotes – you will be ticketed and even taken to court and face very significant fines
And report what you see. Burlington Animal Services at 905-335-3030.
