Coyote complaints on rise in city
More money sought to deal with wildlife
The city is looking at boosting its wildlife management budget after facing one of the busiest years on record for coyote complaints.
There were 2,500 calls to 311 about wild animals by the middle of the year, most about coyotes, which puts Edmonton on track to go well over the average annual figure of about 4,000 calls, according to a report discussed Monday by council’s community services committee.
“As more people move into the city and the city grows, we’re just encroaching more on their natural habitat,” Coun. Michael Walters said.
“It’s just part of our big city life, but when they’re showing nuisance behaviour … that’s when we need to respond.”
The largest increase in concerns comes from neighbourhoods near the North Saskatchewan River valley, the Mill Creek Ravine and other ravines such as Greenfield, Jackie Parker Park and Hermitage, the report says.
Councillors asked city staff to come up with a proposal to include extra money in this fall’s 2016-18 budget for wildlife management and education, which could include more staff, research, and trapping or killing of animals that have become dangerous.
David Aitken, manager of the community standards branch, said two cats were eaten by coyotes in backyards last week, and coyotes sometimes follow people walking a dog because they see it as “a meal on a leash.”
However, they’re a valuable part of the local environment, particularly because their diet features pests such as mice, rabbits and grasshoppers, he said.
“They do have an important role, but when they come too close to neighbourhood pets then the city has to take action,” he said.
“This year, anyway, we have seen quite a spike in the numbers.”
To avoid conflicts, he cautioned people not to feed coyotes and ensure pet food, garbage and fallen fruit isn’t lying around.
Park ranger Ramsey Cox said his office may receive five or more calls a day about the animals, particularly during the spring mating season and in the fall, when the pups are sent to live on their own.
Some animals turn into problems after becoming so accustomed to living around people — even building dens under decks and porches — that they lose their natural fear of humans, he said.
But Coun. Ben Henderson said some people are unnecessarily worried about the predators, saying he’s often followed by a coyote when he walks his dog in his river valley community.
“I know as soon as I turn around it will back off … I know it’s perfectly safe,” he said. “How do we deal with those situations where people might feel threatened, but there’s actually no threat?” gkent@edmontonjournal.com