Coyotes are native to North America and can be found living in urban and rural areas.
While coyotes are very wary of humans and avoid people whenever possible, coyote sightings in Burlington are common. Burlington's green spaces and forested areas provide an excellent habitat for coyotes, they can travel great distances along ravines, hydro corridors, and highways.
As much as possible, the City of Burlington's approach to coyotes in the community is to leave them alone. Coyotes naturally fear humans and should remain wild animals. Coyotes play an important role in balancing the ecosystem in southern Ontario, helping to control the populations of rabbits, rats and mice.
There are things we can all do to ensure coyotes remain wild animals and avoid interaction with people. Often, conflicts can be prevented if we are willing to make small changes to how we think and act. Please read on to learn about what the community can do to help deter coyotes from our neighbourhoods and minimize human/coyote conflicts.
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 garbage or someone intentionally or accidentally feeding a coyote, you can assist the city by submitting an online report.
Alternatively, please call 905-335-3030 to report a coyote sighting or feeding issue. Please be prepared to provide location details.
Preventing Human/Coyote Conflicts |
Do not feed coyotes Feeding coyotes teaches them to depend on human handouts and can cause them to become too familiar with humans. This habituation can lead to aggressive behaviour near people and dogs. Solutions:
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Protecting pets from coyotes |
Never leave pets unattended Coyotes can view pets as a threat to their territory, and may attack. Like many species, coyotes are protective of their family members and may perceive domestic dogs as a threat or danger, especially when there is a den site nearby. Solutions:
92% of conflict situations between wildlife and domestic dogs occur when dogs are off-leash. |
How to deter coyotes from your property |
Residential neighbourhoods are an ideal coyote habitat. Solution:
Watch a video about how to wildlife proof your property |
What about relocating or eliminating coyotes? |
Relocating or killing coyotes is not the answer to reducing coyote/human conflicts. In the province of Ontario, property owners have the right to hire a trapper licensed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to remove and euthanize wildlife that is causing damage to their property although research shows that removal of a coyote is a short-term solution. Once a coyote is removed from an area, another coyote will move in to the same territory. Traps also pose a danger to other wildlife, family pets and small children. The City of Burlington's Animal Services is not permitted to trap wildlife on private property or relocate coyotes. Any future decision about trapping wildlife on city property would be made by Burlington City Council. For information on the laws regarding your rights as a property owner, visit www.ontario.ca/wildlife. |
Techniques for hazing coyotes |
Consistent hazing will deter coyotes. Deterring coyotes takes vigilance. Consistent efforts by the entire community to haze coyotes can help to re-instill their fear of humans and discourage undesirable behaviour. Solutions:
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What to Do If a Coyote Approaches |
Coyote sightings are commonplace. If you see a coyote, keep your distance and the animal will most likely avoid you. If you encounter an aggressive coyote:
If you see an aggressive, sick or injured coyote, call 905-335-3030. If a coyote poses an immediate threat or danger to public safety, call 9-1-1 and alert Halton Regional Police. |
The City continues to place a focus on education to help build the community's understanding about coyotes, their behaviour and preventing situations that may cause conflict.
March 10, 2021 - Community Coyote Meeting |
In March 2021, a coyote information meeting was held to answer Burlington and Oakville residents' questions about how to live with coyotes safely. Here is the video from that meeting.
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June 13, 2017 - Public Information Meeting, Living with Coyotes |
On Tuesday, June 13, 2017 a public information meeting about living with coyotes in the community was held at Mainway Arena. Mayor Rick Goldring and Councillor Jack Dennison were joined by MPP Eleanor McMahon and representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to share information and discuss what can be done to minimize human-coyote conflicts. Following the meeting, the city undertook several actions, including:
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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 - creating a vacuum in the ecosystem. Coyotes are easily able to navigate urban landscapes and have filled the hole created in the ecosystem. There are plenty of natural food sources, such as rodents and rabbits, in urban settings. |
Can the coyotes be relocated or killed? |
Relocating or killing coyotes is not recommended, difficult to accomplish and only a Band-Aid solution. Removing a coyote opens up the landscape for another coyote or two to move in, filling nature's vacancy. Much like birds, squirrels, raccoons and other animals, coyotes have found a permanent home in urban areas. |
Why can't the City of Burlington's Animal Services come and take the coyote away? |
The City of Burlington's approach to coyotes in the community is to leave them alone so that they remain wild animals. The role of the City of Burlington's Animal Services is to assist and care for lost, sick and injured animals in the community. If you see a sick or injured coyote call Animal Services at 905-335-3030. |
Do coyotes eat dogs and cats 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 and one of their preferred prey species, such as rabbits or rats, they do not hunt dogs. Most often, dogs are seen as potential competition for food or as a threat to coyotes, as they are from the dog family as well. |
If I feed a coyote, will it leave my pet alone? |
Feeding coyotes, even indirectly through bird feeders (which attract rodents) 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. |
Is my bird feeder really going to attract coyotes? |
Bird seed left on the ground can attract rodents, which in turn can attract coyotes. Rodents make up at least 75 per cent of a coyote diet. |
Do coyotes attack people? |
Coyotes are very wary of humans and avoid people whenever possible. Coyotes that do not show a natural fear for people may have become habituated through someone intentionally or inadvertently feeding them. Halton Public Health reports that, with one exception in 2012, there has never been a reported incident of a coyote biting or scratching a person. The one reported incident resulted in a minor injury. However, every year there are over 900 incidents involving cats and dogs, many with serious consequences. |
Is there such a thing as a coy wolf? |
Eastern Coyotes share remnants of DNA with wolves. Scientists estimate that the initial cross-breeding of the species occurred approximately 100 years ago in north western Ontario. While today's Eastern Coyote often looks wolf-like, it remains significantly smaller (a large Eastern Coyote is approximately 40 pounds). The small amount of DNA they share with wolves does not affect their behaviour in terms of how humans can safely coexist with this highly adaptable, family oriented and intelligent native North American canid. |