Coyote sightings prompt warning from province
Published Wednesday December 10th, 2008
Predators | Residents told to keep garbage locked up and not leave pet food out
An ounce of prevention may just save your pet's life.
Officials with the Department of Natural Resources say coyotes - like raccoons, foxes and bears - are attracted to residential areas because of the availability of food.
Recent coyote sightings in the Springhill Road area, Kelly's Mini Home Park, Glengarry Place, Garden Place and Rainsford Lane Park have prompted the department to advise people not to leave pet food outdoors, not to put garbage at curbside until it's pickup time and to keep it in a locked storage container or shed.
Pets are also at risk because of the predatory nature of coyotes, said Rod Cumberland, a wildlife biologist with the Department of Natural Resources.
"If people have cats that they are not looking after, that's usually a quick easy meal for a coyote," Cumberland said. "They may be in and around looking, (but) if they don't find anything, they will go back out to where they were."
Cumberland said food can be hard to come by for coyotes.
"Sometimes when they are having a hard time catching stuff out there (in the wild), they will take a trot somewhere else on their home range and see if there is a little bit easier pickings," he said.
Cumberland said the coyote population isn't on the rise in New Brunswick.
Ward 12 Coun. David Kelly, who represents the area of the city where coyotes have been seen, said residents need to be responsible for the safety of their pets.
"The message I am telling residents in Ward 12 and in our region is to be careful and make sure you know where your domestic indoor pets are when you let them out," Kelly said.
"Dogs are not supposed to be let free and roam around neighborhoods, and cats are no different. It is sad to hear people are losing their pets due to wild animals, but precautions must be taken by pet owners."
City residents having problems with coyotes need to contact a nuisance-wildlife-control operator. A list can be found can be found at www.gnb.ca/0078/fw/nw/wildlifeop-e.asp.
Coyotes in New Brunswick are trapped for their pelts, which sell for an average of $25.
Although cases of coyotes attacking humans are rare, they have happened.
In 1988, long strands of human hair were found in the stomach of a large coyote at Alberta's Banff National Park.
The snarling animal was shot by park officials after it dragged a teenage girl by the ponytail out of her sleeping bag while she was camping with her family.
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