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City offers advice on dealing with coyotes

The City of New Westminster wants to help inform residents about dealing with urban coyotes. City council has directed staff to obtain or develop an educational video on urban coyote populations. The video would be posted on the city's website.

The City of New Westminster wants to help inform residents about dealing with urban coyotes.

City council has directed staff to obtain or develop an educational video on urban coyote populations. The video would be posted on the city's website.

"The animals are basically afraid of humans," said Coun. Bill Harper. "They shy away under certain kinds of conditions."

Harper said the issue of coyotes often arises in the summer, as new pups are born in the spring and are making their way into the community.

"The city has no jurisdiction here," he said about control over wildlife. "This is all provincial jurisdiction, under the Ministry of Environment."

Harper said coyotes create a "lot of fear" as people are fearful about losing their small animals to coyotes or having small children attacked.

Harper, however, would like to see what the city could do to ensure residents are well informed about dealing with coyotes.

"They are here," Harper said. "They are not going to be leaving. I tell my friends I live in an urban jungle."

Councillors noted that residents should keep their cats indoors at night to prevent them from being a coyote's meal.

Coun. Jaimie McEvoy said coyotes have been spotted all around New Westminster, not just the Queen's Park neighbourhood.

The City of New Westminster's website states that coyotes primarily eat whatever is available, such as mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits and garbage. While they're not generally considered dangerous, the website states that they have been known to attack small pets and approach people for food.

The city's website recommends that people protect

themselves and their pets by never feeding coyotes, never leaving small children unattended, never allowing dogs to interact with coyotes and using extra caution from dusk through dawn or when in wooded areas.

The city's website also includes the following tips for people if they're approached by a coyote: be as big, mean, and loud as possible; shout with a loud, aggressive voice, stamp your feet and wave your arms; move towards an area of activity, but do not run or turn your back; and pick up small pets or children and carry them.

If people see a coyote that's acting aggressively toward humans or is injured, they should call the Ministry of Environment at 1-800-663-9453.

tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com