Kearns teams up with the Foxcroft people - whistles intended to scare away the animals

By Pepper Parr

January 27th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

 

Coyotes in Burlington were ward 4 and 5 issues. There must have been something about the downtown core they didn’t like.

That is no longer the case.

When ward 2 Councillor Lisa Kearns began to get calls – she, to use a phrase the Mayor likes, got into giddy-up mode and began to put together a ward 2 approach to the problem.

Then happenstance came into play.

Walking path along Maple Lane. No coyotes

The city’s Animal Control people bought 1200 Fox 40 whistles – the coyotes don’t like them all that much.

Signage with what to do should you see a coyote

When Kearns learned that Ron Foxcroft made a whistle she put out a call to him.

Turns out the two of them go back some distance.

When Lisa was in high school, at Cardinal Newman on Grays Road in Stoney Creek, she did a project on Fox 40. Ron says she got “100” on her high school project.

They have been BFF as a result.

On a cold Wednesday Ron Foxcroft, his son Ronnie, and Lisa Kearns will be outside blowing on whistles.

It would be nice if a couple of coyotes would show up to see just how good the whistle sound is on scarring the critters off.

Where do you get a Foxcroft whistle?

Team Aquatic Supplies just placed an order for these, so they have plenty in stock. They are also available at Al’s Source for Sports, Team Aquatic Supplies to go along with SAIL, MEC, Canadian Tire and Fox40Shop.com.

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3 comments to Kearns teams up with the Foxcroft people – whistles intended to scare away the animals

  • Mary Brown

    The long term solution is for people to educate themselves on how to live in peaceful coexistence. Coyote all other species survive on instinct, people are suppose to survive by thinking. The coyote is vital to the ecosystem. If you try to drive out the coyote you will soon be over run with rats. Given the choice, the coyote is the wildlife of choice. People are suppose to be intelligent enough to keep their dog leashed even in their own backyard, the pet should be supervised and responsive to voice commands, to supervise against dog thieves, gates blowing open, digging under fences and uninvited guests. Cats should not be allowed outside at any time. Bylaws specific pets are not to run at large. Small dogs and cats are prey to the coyote, you let them out you risk their life. It is not a matter if they don’t make it home one day, but when, the risks will quickly catch up to them. Besides, as a good neighbour others don’t want your pet’s urine and feces in their garden. Keep cats indoors 100%of the time. Because you are human does not give you any right to uproot or have a god complex to destroy wildlife because you fail to learn, respect and love the wildlife you are lucky enough to see. Look to yourself for that long term answer and teach you friends and family to do the same, do not encourage fear or hate of a species you have made no effort to understand.

  • Stephen White

    Sorry to advise Councillor Kearns but blowing whistles on this issue is tantamount to blowing hot air. It won’t get the result you want.

    In March 2020 the Burlington & Oakville Coyote Management Association (“BOCM”) was formed comprising a cross-section of residents concerned with the proliferation of interactions and attacks involving coyotes (https://www.facebook.com/groups/326824705488317). As one of the co-founders of this group I was increasingly dismayed by the lack of constructive ideas and suggestions on how to address this issue. The only ideas we ever heard generated on this issue were: 1) don’t feed the animals; and 2) learn to live with it. Sorry, but this response simply isn’t good enough.

    Over the course of the summer we researched and prepared a 27 page report containing a detailed list of 10 different recommendations on how to address this issue. These measures represent a cross-section of constructive, original ideas including improved signage, better education, stiffer fines for feeding wildlife, increased patrols by by-law officers, and various other suggestions. We recently presented our recommendations to a cross-section of elected officials including Councillor Sharman in Burlington and Councillors O’Meara and Robertson from Oakville.

    Stay tuned for more developments.

  • Penny Hersh

    While I commend Councillor Kearns for the suggestion of using a Foxcroft Whistle I have to question if this is the way to handle the Coyote Problem?

    If indeed the noise will scare away the coyote it will not prevent it from reappearing and not everyone will have a noisemaker available when needed.

    A more longterm solution needs to be considered. What that is needs to be determined by the department who handles wildlife issues.