Urban Coyotes

Although it can be hard to believe, coyotes do live very comfortably in urban areas like Essex County and even parts of Windsor. Seeing coyotes in a quiet neighbourhood often makes residents concerned about their safety, their pets’ safety, or the health of the coyote. If you see a coyote with a clear injury or major fur loss, please call the Humane Society at 519-966-5751, or Wings Wildlife Rehab Centre at 519-736-8172.

What should you do if you encounter a wild animal such as a coyote in your neighborhood?

• Ensure your dogs are always on leash and within reach. Monitor them during free play in the backyard.
• Keep cats indoors if possible. If you have a cat who goes outside, try to bring them in at night, and don’t feed them outside which can draw coyotes.  However, despite common misconceptions, coyotes prey on cats far less frequently than previously believed.  Read more here.
• Coyotes rarely pose a danger to people. They are often curious, and very used to people so don’t show a lot of fear or wariness. If you unexpectedly encounter a coyote in close quarters wave your arms, shout, and even throw objects to show it that you mean business. Most coyotes won’t take more than a second to high-tail it out of there if you put on an aggressive display. If a coyote is in your yard you can follow the same tips, as well as banging on a pot with a spoon or spraying them with a garden hose.

Remember as well that wild animals such as coyotes are amongst us because their natural environments are becoming fewer and far between. Urban locations offer food, shelter, and often lack other natural predators making them ideal hangouts for wild animals.

For more information about coyotes in Ontario please check out the Ministry of Natural Resource’s Coyote Fact Sheet

Urban coyote