Coyote sightings are common in the City of Burlington, as our green spaces and forested areas provide an excellent habitat for them. While coyotes will generally avoid humans, they can pose a serious threat to pets, such as cats and small dogs.
The City of Burlington is responsible for taking appropriate actions to manage resident encounters with coyotes and take appropriate action on municipal property. On the rare occasion that a coyote attacks a person, the City has a Council approved protocol in place to prioritize and deal with the coyote in question.
Coyotes naturally fear humans and should remain wild animals with little human interference. They play an important role in balancing the ecosystem in southern Ontario by controlling the populations of rabbits, rats and mice.
By leaving coyotes alone in their natural habitats, we can help prevent conflict between coyotes, people and pets.
Your feedback helps us to monitor the location of coyotes in the community. If you see a coyote, or observe a potential problem related to an overgrown building site, garbage or someone intentionally or accidentally feeding a coyote, you can assist the city by submitting an online report.
If a coyote poses an immediate threat to public safety, call 9-1-1 and alert the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS).
There are things we can all do to make sure coyotes stay wild animals and stay away from people and pets.
Never feed coyotes. This includes intentionally feeding them or accidentally by leaving food waste on private or public property. Feeding coyotes teaches them to depend on human handouts and can cause them to become too familiar with humans. This can lead to aggressive behaviour near people and dogs.
Hand and ground feeding wildlife on private or public property is prohibited by the City’s Animal Control By-law (60-2005).
The City’s Lot Maintenance By-law (49-2022) requires waste, compost, pet food and animal food be stored in a clean and well-maintained manner so as to not attract rodents, vermin, insects, pests or wildlife, or create a health and safety hazard, save and except as permitted under the City’s Animal Control By-law.
Contraventions of By-law 60-2005 or By-law 49-2022 may be subject to a fine.
Animal Control Officers have the discretion to issue tickets of $250 or issue a court summons with an increased fine range from $500 up to a maximum of $100,000. A summons is usually reserved for serious offences and repeat offenders.
Make sure garbage, compost and pet food are stored in a place coyotes cannot access.
On garbage collection day, place your garbage at the curb in the morning instead of the night before.
Coyote sightings are common. If you see a coyote, keep your distance and the animal will most likely avoid you. If you come across a coyote:
If you see a sick or injured coyote, please fill out this form.
Coyote sightings and vocalizations may increase during season active times of the year such as:
Understanding the benefits of coyotes in our ecosystem helps to promote a preserve healthy wild spaces.
If a coyote poses an immediate threat to public safety, call 9-1-1 and alert the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS).
Residential neighbourhoods are an ideal coyote habitat. Water, shelter and food sources like garbage, pet food and birdfeeders make residential areas appealing to coyotes.
By-law 49-2022 is the City’s Lot Maintenance Bylaw. A property owner is responsible to keep their lot clean and clear of debris. Residents and property owners can make sure they comply with the bylaw by ensuring their property is tidy and clear of garbage, food, brush, long grass and wood piles which are ideal den sites for coyotes or other wild animals that attract coyotes. Backyard bird feeders are exempt under the City’s Lot Maintenance Bylaw (49-2022). They must be well maintained to avoid fines.
You can make your property less inviting to coyotes by:
Consistent hazing will scare off coyotes by re-instilling their fear of humans. Any time you see a coyote in a residential area, use hazing techniques to scare it away, such as:
Never leave pets unattended. Coyotes can hunt cats and small dogs. They may view dogs as a threat to their territory or family. You can protect your pets by:
We hold educational meetings to help build the community's awareness of coyotes and teach people how to avoid conflict with them.
New in fall 2023: Animal Services will be hosting educational pop-ups at various recreation centres and public libraries. Residents can drop by to learn about coyote-proofing their property, and what to do if they see a coyote. Whistles used for hazing coyotes will also be available for free. Dates and details regarding these pop-ups will be shared on this page.
Thursday, April 4 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Burlington Central Library – 2331 New St, First Floor – South Entryway near New St.
Thursday, April 11 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Appleby Ice Centre Side B (Rinks 3 & 4) - 1201 Appleby Line
Thursday, April 18 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Burlington Central Library – 2331 New St, First Floor – South Entryway near New St.
Thursday, April 25 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Tansley Woods Community Centre - 1996 Itabashi Way
Thursday, May 2 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Burlington Central Library – 2331 New St, First Floor – South Entryway near New St.
Thursday, May 9 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Burlington Seniors' Centre - 2285 New St
Thursday, May 16 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Burlington Central Library – 2331 New St, First Floor – South Entryway near New St.
Thursday, May 23 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Aldershot Pool - 50 Fairwood Pl.
Thursday, May 30 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Burlington Central Library – 2331 New St, First Floor – South Entryway near New St.
Thursday, June 6 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Mainway Recreation Centre - 4015 Mainway
Thursday, June 13 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Burlington Central Library – 2331 New St, First Floor – South Entryway near New St
Thursday, June 20 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Haber Recreation Centre - 3040 Tim Dobbie Dr, Burlington, ON L7M 0M4
Thursday, June 27 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Burlington Central Library – 2331 New St, First Floor – South Entryway near New St.
Thursday, July 4 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Discovery Landing (lower lobby) - 1340 Lakeshore Rd
Thursday, July 11 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Burlington Central Library – 2331 New St, First Floor – South Entryway near New St.
Thursday, July 18 - 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. at Nelson Pool - 4235 New St
Thursday, July 25 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Burlington Central Library – 2331 New St, First Floor – South Entryway near New St
Thursday, August 1 - 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. at Mountainside Pool - 2205 Mt Forest Dr
Thursday, August 8 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Burlington Central Library – 2331 New St, First Floor – South Entryway near New St
Thursday, August 22 - 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Burlington Central Library – 2331 New St, First Floor – South Entryway near New St
March 10, 2021 – Community coyote meeting |
In March 2021, we held a coyote information meeting to answer Burlington and Oakville residents' questions about how to safely live with coyotes. Check out the video recording of this meeting. |
June 13, 2017 – Public information meeting: Living with coyotes |
In June 2017, we held a public information meeting about living with coyotes at Mainway Arena. After the meeting, we took action on recommendations from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. We started:
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Check out these resources to learn more about dealing with coyotes and other types of wildlife.
View some of our frequently asked questions about coyotes and coyote safety.
Can the coyote be relocated or killed? |
No, we don't recommend relocating or killing coyotes, as it is hard to do and only a temporary solution. Removing a coyote will simply allow another one to move in in its place. Much like birds, squirrels, raccoons and other animals, coyotes have found a permanent home in urban areas. The City has a Council approved Coyote Response Strategy that includes an escalation process to deal with various levels of coyote interactions with residents and pets. In the event of a coyote attack, the City will:
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Do coyotes attack people? |
Coyotes are normally very wary of humans and avoid people whenever possible. Coyotes that do not show a natural fear for people may have become used to humans by someone feeding them. The City has a strategy in place to address the rare occasion when coyotes do attack people or pets and is working towards being more proactive to prevent attacks. When people feed coyotes, intentionally or unintentionally, coyotes become familiar with humans, are no longer afraid of humans and show more and more aggressive behaviour. Localized attacks can come from coyotes who have been conditioned to see humans as providing a food source. This learned behaviour creates an environment where wildlife is conditioned to be comfortable with direct human interaction and may come to depend on humans for food. If a coyote poses an immediate threat to public safety, call 9-1-1 and alert the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS).
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Do coyotes eat cats and dogs as a food source? |
Coyotes are omnivores. They eat small rodents as well as local vegetation, such as berries and fruits. While coyotes may not distinguish between a cat, small dog and other small animals, such as rabbits or rats, they do not hunt dogs. Usually, coyotes see dogs as potential competition for food or as a threat. |
If I feed a coyote, will it leave my pet alone? |
Feeding coyotes will encourage them to come back to a specific area to look for more food. Multiple studies from across North America show that feeding animals, intentionally or accidentally, creates a greater chance of conflict, such as pet and attacks on people if the coyote gets too accustomed to being around humans. |
Is my bird feeder really going to attract coyotes? |
Yes, bird feeders indirectly attract coyotes by attracting rodents. Rodents make up at least 75 per cent of a coyote diet. |
Is there such a thing as a coy wolf? |
Eastern Coyotes share remnants of DNA with wolves. Scientists estimate that the species started being cross-bred approximately 100 years ago in north western Ontario. While today's Eastern Coyote often looks wolf-like, it is much smaller than a wolf. The small amount of DNA they share with wolves does not affect their behaviour in terms of how humans can safely coexist with them. |
Why are there coyotes in urban areas? |
The Eastern Coyote is an extremely intelligent, family oriented and highly adaptive species. Since the 17th century, the landscape of Ontario has vastly changed, pushing out the natural species such as bears, wolves and cougars. Unlike these animals, coyotes are easily able to navigate urban landscapes. There are plenty of natural food sources, such as rodents and rabbits, in urban settings. They can also build dens in abandoned or unmaintained lots with long grass, dead brush and wood piles. |
Why can't the City's Animal Services come and take the coyote away? |
Our approach to coyotes in the community is to leave them alone so that they remain wild animals. The City has a strategy in place to address the rare occasion when coyotes do attack people or pets and is working towards being more proactive to prevent attacks. If a coyote poses an immediate threat to public safety, call 9-1-1 and alert the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS). |