Problem coyotes should only be killed as last resort, expert panel tells City of Toronto

The City of Toronto's response to a series of coyote attacks in downtown neighbourhoods aligns with best practices found in other cities, and problem animals should only be destroyed as a last resort, according to a new report.

The report, prepared by an expert panel, comes after several reported coyote attacks this winter in the city's Fort York and Liberty Village neighbourhoods. Multiple pets have been injured or killed in the area since November, prompting residents to demand action from the city.

The panel recommends the city continue trying to deter coyotes through "hazing" or the use of deterrents, such as loud noises, to discourage them from coming too close to urban areas.

It also recommends that city staff scare off coyotes with their presence, loud noises or voices and handheld objects. However, the use of projectiles or bullets could make coyotes react defensively, the report says.

The city began sending staff to patrol on a daily basis about four months ago to monitor and deter coyote activity.

"If animal behaviour changes in a way that affects public safety, the city will consider a range of further actions," the city said in a news release Tuesday. 

Should the problem persist, the report recommends they only be killed individually by trained specialists after careful assessment — but it recommends against culling the entire population in the area. 

The city should also procure a company specializing in coyote management to assess coyotes in the area and apply and monitor these techniques, the report says, and report effectiveness back to the city.

Other recommendations include securing fences in the area, improving lighting and strongly enforcing bylaws against feeding wildlife and dumping garbage, to remove food sources.

The problem stems from coyotes becoming conditioned to associate humans in the area as sources of food because of direct or indirect feeding, the report found. 

The report also found that local condo construction, and the redevelopment of nearby Ontario Place, have pushed the coyote population further into the neighbourhoods. The animals are living mostly in rail corridors and vacant lots, many of which are near public parks, where the high density of dogs are perceived as a threat. 

Aggressive behaviour toward dogs this time of year is typical, the report said, coinciding with the coyotes' reproductive season.

Public education about dumping, wildlife feeding and dogs off leash remains key to ensuring locals stay safe and deter coyotes from coming too close, the report says. 

The report was prepared by an independent, third-party panel of seven experts with backgrounds in coyote management, animal control, biology and ecology, who reviewed incident reports, spoke with residents and investigated known coyote hotspots.