In Thornhill, this may be year of the coyote
Pets, people not safe as wild animals stalk trails and streets, residents say
Residents in a quiet suburban Thornhill neighbourhood say their daily routines have been completely altered after a pack of coyotes living nearby appears to have lost its fear of humans.
Coyote spottings in the ravine near Hefhill Park are not unusual, but 2020 has brought a change in the animals’ behaviour, residents and local politicians say.
“People aren’t even able to put their dogs in their backyards, even with fences, and they don’t feel safe having their small children in the backyard,” said Thornhill MPP Gila Martow, who added her office has received at least 50 complaints about the animals since the snow started melting.
Among the complaints: Two small dogs were snatched away, never to be seen again, and another mauled on its head, requiring stitches. Dozens of geese living in Oakbank Pond Park were victims of a massacre in recent weeks, she said.
“People told me that they no longer feel safe going on the walking trails in some of the ravines because they’ve met up with coyotes there who were aggressive and followed them all the way out, growling at them,” Martow said.
Six residents who have lived in the area for at least a decade or more told the Star the coyotes’ behaviour has changed this year. Before 2020, the animals were not aggressive and usually only seen by those living directly next to them. Now they are frequently spotted in people’s yards, residential streets and on major intersections.
Ariella Serman, who has lived in the area for the last 20 years, said the two small children living next door to her are often anxious when going outside.
Others, like Carol Katz, say the howling is keeping them up at night. And, Katz adds, the coyotes’ presence on her doorstep has deterred her from her morning jogs.
It’s only in recent months that residents have started complaining about being chased, said local Coun. Alan Shefman, something he attributes to residents feeding the animals.
Signs have been put up around the ravine warning residents not to feed the animals, and actions have been taken to reduce food waste around the city. Residents have also been advised to remove bird seeds from their yards, to only put out trash immediately ahead of pickup, and the transit system has been asked to clear garbage at bus stops at a higher frequency.
Running can make a coyote curious, Shefman said. “You need to stare them down, then back away, then you walk away. You don’t run away. If they see something running, they’ll run with it.”
Employees with Animal Services have been monitoring the area around the ravine where the coyotes live to “haze” the animals. That involves making loud noises at the animals; and is done with the hope of instilling a sense of fear in the animals, Shefman said.
Residents are being encouraged to make use of these techniques, and signs around the ravine advise them to carry umbrellas, which can be popped open to scare aggressive coyotes. But residents report little success scaring the coyotes.
John Yakabuski, Ontario’s Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, has since sent a letter to Vaughan Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua advising the city to hire trappers or hunters to deal with the issue. The City of Vaughan did not offer the Star an up-to-date count of the coyote population in the area, but said it has not found rabies among the animals.
Shefman said the city hasn’t hired trappers because it is worried about the safety of residents, pets and other wildlife who could run into traps. Additionally, legislation dictates the animals can’t be moved farther than one kilometre away.