MORE on Coyotes in Oshawa. The City's Coyote Problem is back on the Agenda for the Corporate Services Committee meeting this Monday, Nov 8, 2021 9:30 a.m.
Regarding FEEDING and HUNTING COYOTES, Report CORP-21-60 includes the response from the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Natural Resources:
1. FEEDING Ensure residents are not feeding coyotes:
"The Ministry stated that the highly unusual human-coyote conflict and interactions that Oshawa is experiencing is likely to be a direct result of the animals having a positive interaction with humans generally through direct or indirect feeding and thus losing their fear. They recommend that the City continue with its education campaign ensuring that residents are not feeding wildlife, residential waste is being properly stored and set out "
2. HUNTING Culls do not work and Ministry does not tag or do research on coyote populations
"In addition, they recommend that the City continue to consult with Coyote Watch Canada CWC and undertake aversion conditioning techniques when possible and contract a licensed hunter or trapper only as a last resort to target animals responsible for the problematic behaviour.
The Ministry also advises that mass coyote removals do not work as they do not target the problem animal. Further, most trapped animals are juveniles who are dispersing from the area and that overall the population will rebound very quickly.
Typically, the Ministry does not tag nor do research on coyote populations in Ontario. This activity requires significant resources by highly trained, certified and experienced individuals. In addition, the Ministry does not actively control coyote populations through a cull or trapping."
3. But the Ministry "confirmed that they intend to establish a central database for tracking serious coyote incidents across the province."
4. Killing an aggressive Coyote
The proposed Coyote Response Management PLAN CRMP "permits for the lethal removal of a coyote if there is a proven bona fide health and safety risk to the public and the animal is sick or injured. If lethal removal is deemed necessary, this must be evaluated through a case-by-case process, applying rigorous scientific methodology, humane considerations, and evidence-based conclusions to accurately determine which coyote was involved. C.W.C. indicates that lethal removal is a short-term response and by no means represents sustainable coexistence.
The decision to eliminate a targeted coyote that is exhibiting unusual, aggressive and unprovoked behaviour will be based on evidence, a thorough investigation and only as a last resort when there is a threat to public safety. Removal efforts will attempt to focus on the offending coyote(s) only, rather than the population at large. This may require surveillance efforts to make sure that the correct coyote(s) is targeted and eliminated. "
5. City's tracking of calls concerning coyotes now by classification
a) Sighting but no interaction
b) Encounter
c) Incident -coyote growls, bars teeth, lunges or contact but no bite
d) Bite to Pet
e) Bite to Person
6. If the Coyote Response Management Plan is approved it will require a by-law amendment to the City's Hunting and Firearms By-law to allow for discharge of aggressive coyote for protection of human life.
The CRMP will be reviewed by the City's Animal Advisory Committee and come to Council for final approval.
Regarding FEEDING and HUNTING COYOTES, Report CORP-21-60 includes the response from the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Natural Resources:
1. FEEDING Ensure residents are not feeding coyotes:
"The Ministry stated that the highly unusual human-coyote conflict and interactions that Oshawa is experiencing is likely to be a direct result of the animals having a positive interaction with humans generally through direct or indirect feeding and thus losing their fear. They recommend that the City continue with its education campaign ensuring that residents are not feeding wildlife, residential waste is being properly stored and set out "
2. HUNTING Culls do not work and Ministry does not tag or do research on coyote populations
"In addition, they recommend that the City continue to consult with Coyote Watch Canada CWC and undertake aversion conditioning techniques when possible and contract a licensed hunter or trapper only as a last resort to target animals responsible for the problematic behaviour.
The Ministry also advises that mass coyote removals do not work as they do not target the problem animal. Further, most trapped animals are juveniles who are dispersing from the area and that overall the population will rebound very quickly.
Typically, the Ministry does not tag nor do research on coyote populations in Ontario. This activity requires significant resources by highly trained, certified and experienced individuals. In addition, the Ministry does not actively control coyote populations through a cull or trapping."
3. But the Ministry "confirmed that they intend to establish a central database for tracking serious coyote incidents across the province."
4. Killing an aggressive Coyote
The proposed Coyote Response Management PLAN CRMP "permits for the lethal removal of a coyote if there is a proven bona fide health and safety risk to the public and the animal is sick or injured. If lethal removal is deemed necessary, this must be evaluated through a case-by-case process, applying rigorous scientific methodology, humane considerations, and evidence-based conclusions to accurately determine which coyote was involved. C.W.C. indicates that lethal removal is a short-term response and by no means represents sustainable coexistence.
The decision to eliminate a targeted coyote that is exhibiting unusual, aggressive and unprovoked behaviour will be based on evidence, a thorough investigation and only as a last resort when there is a threat to public safety. Removal efforts will attempt to focus on the offending coyote(s) only, rather than the population at large. This may require surveillance efforts to make sure that the correct coyote(s) is targeted and eliminated. "
5. City's tracking of calls concerning coyotes now by classification
a) Sighting but no interaction
b) Encounter
c) Incident -coyote growls, bars teeth, lunges or contact but no bite
d) Bite to Pet
e) Bite to Person
6. If the Coyote Response Management Plan is approved it will require a by-law amendment to the City's Hunting and Firearms By-law to allow for discharge of aggressive coyote for protection of human life.
The CRMP will be reviewed by the City's Animal Advisory Committee and come to Council for final approval.
