BRAMPTON – As winter approaches, Brampton Animal Services is reminding residents that coyote dispersal season is underway. Understanding dispersal season and taking steps to minimize attractants is critical to safely coexisting with wildlife in the community.
What is coyote dispersal season?
Dispersal season occurs from October through February and is a natural stage in the life cycle of young coyotes, typically around six to nine months old. As they mature, these juveniles leave their family units searching for their own space to avoid overcrowding and ensure a balanced ecosystem. During this time, the increased movement can bring them closer to developed areas, becoming more visible as they search for food, shelter and new areas to call home over the winter months.
Winter also makes coyotes easier to spot because there is less foliage to provide cover and snow tracks may reveal their presence. Coyotes are most active at dawn and dusk, but colder weather and reduced daylight may increase their activity during the day as well. As food becomes scarcer in natural environments, coyotes may wander into residential areas in search of food.
Why proper food disposal is critical to preventing coyote encounters
One of the most effective ways to prevent coyote encounters is by ensuring no food is available for them or their usual prey (i.e. rabbits, squirrels, mice and rats). Coyotes are opportunistic feeders and will take advantage of any easy food sources, including unsecured garbage, pet food left outdoors, birdseed and compost.
In accordance with Brampton’s by-law, feeding wildlife is prohibited. Residents are urged to avoid feeding wildlife, even unintentionally, as it increases the risk of attracting coyotes. A coyote that becomes accustomed to human-provided food may lose its natural fear of humans, increasing the potential for conflict.
What is a coyote?
Coyotes are small, wild canines weighing about 30 to 40 pounds, with thick blonde, red or brown fur. They thrive in rural areas and do well living in ravines, valley lands and wooded areas in large cities. Coyotes are generally shy and non-confrontational; they can be seen all year round. Coyotes are integral members of a diverse ecosystem.
Why are there coyotes in Brampton?
Coyotes are not a new species in Ontario. All major cities across North America are home to them. Coyotes have benefitted from landscape changes brought about by urban sprawl and human activity, including clearing land for development. Cities and suburban areas provide access to coyote prey such as mice, rats, rabbits and squirrels and enough places for shelter, rest and denning. However, many residents may never see a coyote as they prefer to stay unnoticed and away from potential threats such as people, dogs and cars.
Are coyotes dangerous?
Coyotes are naturally timid animals. Typically, they avoid people and confrontation. Most sightings are of coyotes focused on finding sources of food and water or a mate and protecting their families by watching for threats. They are mostly concerned about keeping other coyotes away. Because dogs are like coyotes, they will be treated as competition or a threat.
Tips for keeping your family and pets safe
- Keep pets on a leash: When walking your dog, always keep them on a short leash, especially near naturalized areas, parks or along trails where coyotes are commonly seen. This helps reduce the risk of unexpected encounters.
- Secure all food sources: Never leave pet food, birdseed or garbage outdoors where it can attract coyotes or their prey. Store garbage in secure containers and clean up fallen fruit or food scraps.
- Supervise pets outdoors: When letting your pets outside, especially during dawn and dusk when coyotes are most active, always supervise them, even in fenced yards. Small dogs and cats can appear as prey to coyotes.
- Be “big and loud”: If you encounter a coyote, do not run. Make yourself appear larger by raising your arms and making noise to scare the animal away. Coyotes will typically retreat when they feel threatened.
- Report unusual behaviour: If you see a coyote displaying aggressive or unusual behaviour, such as approaching people or acting sick, contact Brampton Animal Services immediately at 3-1-1 or 905.458.5800. If a coyote is presenting an immediate threat to public safety, call 9-1-1.
Steps to take if you encounter a coyote
- Stay calm: It might feel difficult, but if you are approached by a coyote, remain calm.
- Do not run away: Running away from a coyote may encourage them to follow you.
- Make yourself loud and large: If a coyote continues to approach you, make gestures and use objects to startle the coyote into running away – do not chase or touch the animal.
- Call 3-1-1: Report an occurrence with a coyote to 311 Service Brampton. In an emergency situation, call 9-1-1.
Coyote aversion conditioning techniques
If a coyote approaches, aversion conditioning is a safe method to deter it from getting too close. Use tools such as loud noisemakers, a water bottle or an umbrella to startle the animal. The goal is to reinforce the coyote’s natural wariness of humans.
Brampton’s Coyote Sighting Map
The City of Brampton’s interactive Coyote Sighting Map is a tool for the community to stay informed about when coyotes are in the area and prevent coyote encounters. Residents and visitors are encouraged to use this tool to stay safe when planning activities in nature and to report coyote sightings.
How Brampton Animal Services helps keep the community safe
Brampton Animal Services is committed to promoting coexistence between wildlife and the community. Through the dedicated wildlife response team, Brampton’s Animal Services works alongside the community to do its part to preserve Brampton’s natural ecosystem and keep the community safe. They use several techniques and offer resources, including:
- Conducting aversion conditioning (humane hazing) on wildlife to reinforce a fear of being close to people and communities. Aversion conditioning can also be practiced by a member of the public if they encounter a coyote by making themselves look large by raising their arms and making loud noises.
- Assigning designated Brampton Animal Services officers to specific duties aimed at reducing coyote conflicts, including:
- conducting routine enhanced coyote hazing in residential areas,
- identifying locations for coyote signs at pathways entering wooded areas,
- responding to coyote conflicts,
- conducting enforcement of wildlife feeding by-laws in areas where food is frequently left for wildlife,
- monitoring coyote sightings data to determine trends, and
- conducting public education to inform residents about coyotes and coexistence tactics.
- Increasing staff presence in areas where there are frequent coyote sightings, encounters or conflict.
- Providing inspections of private or public property for environmental factors to identify items that may attract, be a potential habitat or create an access point for coyotes to prevent coyote encounters or conflicts.
Contacting Brampton Animal Services
If in doubt, call Brampton Animal Services. Animal Services is always available to educate and inform, rescue and respond to all inquiries about wildlife in Brampton. They can be reached at 905.458.5800.
If you see a deceased or injured coyote, call Brampton Animal Services. Animal Control is on the road Monday through Friday from 7 am to 11 pm and on Saturday, Sunday and holidays from 8 am to 6:30 pm and is available after-hours for emergencies.
If a coyote is actively presenting an immediate threat to public safety by exhibiting aggressive behaviour such as lunging or biting, call 9-1-1. If the threat is no longer active or the public is not in immediate danger, call 3-1-1 to report an occurrence. If you observe a coyote that is not behaving aggressively, please report your sighting using the online interactive map.
Visit brampton.ca/animalservices for more information and resources.