Toronto residents are advised that coyote sightings are normal at this time of year

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  February 4, 2014   

Toronto residents are advised that coyote sightings are normal at this time of year

The City of Toronto says residents who live near ravines, forests and large parks in Toronto can expect to experience more coyote sightings during winter months than at other times of the year.

Coyotes have become a natural part of the urban landscape in Toronto. They can thrive in urban areas because of the abundance of food available to them.

Residents can expect to see coyotes more often in winter for the following reasons:

- It is easier to spot coyotes in parks and ravines in the winter because they are not hidden by foliage.

- Coyotes are wary by nature and are more comfortable roaming in residential neighbourhoods when fewer people are outside.

- The months of January and February are mating season for coyotes, which means coyotes are more active during this time, making them more visible.

Coyotes may approach pets that are not supervised, especially cats and small dogs. It is always a good idea to keep your dog on a leash and your cat closely supervised while they are outside. It is very unlikely that a coyote will be attracted to a child, but close supervision of children is always important.

Residents are advised to follow these steps to minimize negative encounters with coyotes:

• Avoid feeding coyotes or other wild animals. Feeding wild animals is detrimental to the animals themselves and can create problems for the neighbourhood.

• Avoid feeding domestic pets outdoors.

• Ensure that all household garbage is inaccessible to animals.

• Place garbage at the curb on the morning of the scheduled pickup rather than the night before.

• Consider using green bins instead of composters for food waste.

• Always supervise pets – keep dogs on a leash and keep cats indoors or supervised when outside.

• Remove dense brush and weeds around property to minimize hiding spots for coyotes.

• If you encounter a coyote, wave your arms aggressively, make loud noises and throw objects in its direction to scare it away. These actions teach coyotes to be afraid of humans and will help to minimize conflicts with coyotes. If those kinds of actions do not scare aware a coyote, slowly back away from the coyote – avoid turning your back or running away. When you have an opportunity later, report the encounter to the City by calling 311.

For more information or to report a coyote sighting, residents can visit the web page at http://www.toronto.ca/coyote or call 311.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contact: Tammy Robbinson, Strategic Communications, 416-338-3761, trobbin@toronto.ca