‘Extra caution’: Expert warns of aggressive coyotes as denning season arrives in Edmonton

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As coyote denning season arrives in Edmonton, an expert and the municipality are reminding residents how to limit run-ins and respond when they, or their pets, encounter the animals who can become more aggressive at this time of year.

Pregnant coyotes have by now chosen where to set up their dens and will give birth in late April or early May, and continue to early June, said biological sciences professor Colleen Cassady St. Clair at a news conference Monday. The pups start to emerge within three to four weeks and play around the edges of their dens — that’s when the mothers become “hyper-aggressive” to protect them, she said — though attacks on humans are rare. Aggression is typically aimed at dogs — dog owners can avoid conflict by keeping dogs on leash and avoiding areas with dens nearby.

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“We see the most aggressive reports in this summer rearing season,” she told reporters Monday. “It’s dogs that elicit this defensive behaviour by coyotes, they see dogs as both competitors and potential predators of their pups. If you know that there is a den in the area, a good way to avoid conflict is just walk your dog somewhere else.”

Tops of river banks are attractive places for coyote moms to build their dens, St. Clair said. A student researcher also found a “surprising” number of dens within 100 metres of buildings, she said.

“We think coyotes might be choosing those places because the tops of banks are often quite steep and inaccessible. They’re just below the top of bank. Often they have very dense vegetation, afforded by lots of light and hard vegetation to get through like caragana and easy access to neighbourhoods,” she said.

“It’s walking dogs in those areas where extra caution might be warranted.”

The City of Edmonton’s approach to coyotes has for years focused on how to more peacefully co-exist by public education.

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The public can prevent interactions with coyotes first by limiting the “goodies” they can find in neighbourhoods, St. Clair said, such as garbage, compost, falling food, birdseed and pet food.

Keeping dogs on leash especially near natural areas during denning season is important.

Thirdly, hazing — treating coyotes aggressively when they get too close to people in residential areas during the day. Standing tall and shouting with a loud and dominant voice, and even throwing a stick at a rock at a coyote getting too close, will “haze” the animals — scaring them so they do not become too habituated to humans.

Bold and aggressive coyotes that aren’t deterred can be reported to 311.

John Wilson, the city’s director for animal care and park rangers, said the city’s strategy is meant to be “effective and ethical” by focusing on a proactive approach that both limits the number of coyotes that need to be killed — which can actually boost populations.

“We focus on proactive and non-lethal methods that prioritize both public safety and the well-being of urban wildlife through coexistence,” he said.

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Coyote sightings reported to 311 are on the rise since 2022, but at the same time complaints of aggressive animals dropped 75 per cent since then, he said. He thinks the use of projectile launchers by park rangers, which started in late 2023 and Postmedia first reported on in October, may explain the decline.

The city uses inert pepper ball launchers — plastic bullets that look like paintballs — with a powder inside to cause pain and scare the animals, but without causing lasting harm.

Park ranger and wildlife officer Shawn Beskowiney said coyotes are responding to the launchers as is intended.

“Areas like throughout the river valley system, where coyotes are naturally present, when they engage in those higher risk behaviours that are more conflict, we are seeing a direct response when we use (launchers), and it’s usually pretty quick,” he said.

“We will maintain and monitor those sites in those areas. And we’re seeing that over the longer period of time, there has been a good response.”

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For instance, he said there were some “pretty serious attacks” in Argyll Park on pets. Park rangers used the projectile launchers on coyotes there and “other management strategies,” and those complaints dropped.

Victoria Park is another.

“By the cricket pitch, we had some coyotes that were pretty habituated and hanging out there, and after just a couple of high-intensity hazing efforts, we haven’t had any response back that way,” he said. “So it seems like they let off.”

lboothby@postmedia.com

@laurby

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