1919 was the year of the first confirmed sighting of a coyote in Ontario. Since then there has been speculation that many of the coyotes in eastern and southeastern Ontario are not ‘pure’ coyotes, but rather coyote-wolf hybrids (especially hybrids with the red wolf). The movement of the coyote into Ontario is a result of two factors: first, a decline in the wolf population due to concerted and focused campaigns of extermination that went hand-in-hand with the second, the clearing of the forests. This allowed the coyote to migrate north from its traditional pre-Columbian range, primarily in the American south.
Two winters ago, Mickey was outside for a pee at the cottage and a coyote happened to walk into the yard. They stood about five meters apart staring at one another, neither making a move. We happened to look out the window and saw Mickey staring down another dog, so we went outside to make sure Mickey didn’t cause any problems. (He likes to be the dominant dog.) At this point we realized it was a coyote and not a dog: we knew all the dogs in the area and it wasn’t one of them. Plus, it looked like a coyote and not a dog.About a year ago, I began hearing ‘reports’ (gossip, really) of an increase in population in the coyotes in the region. They had been known to pass through the area in the winter when most of the cottagers were in Ottawa or Toronto. They had been spotted along Old Perth Road near Frontenac Provincial Park (in Frontenac County) and I had seen one near Crosby (in Leeds County). But, best of all, in early last summer through the fall we occasionally saw an adult coyote and a puppy along Brighton-Houghton Bay Road (just below the intersection with Old Kingston Road), also in Leeds County. One day while we were driving along Briton-Houghton Bay Road, we happened upon the coyote and the pup; the pup, being silly, decided to flee the car by running along side the car down the road. Eventually the puppy turned off into the woods. Occasionally, about on a weekly basis, we’d see the coyote and pup along the road. Since the winter started, however, we have not seen the coyote or the pup. Today we were driving down the road and, just below the Moonlight Bay Campground, we came upon the coyote standing on the road. The coyote mosied on into the brush, back a hundred meters from the road, and looked at us with its ears up. After awhile the coyote turned around and walked off down a pathway. It wasn’t there when we returned about a half hour later, however, we saw two deer — a buck and a doe — on the way back.
Unfortunately, people have a tendency to dislike wolves and, because it is difficult to distinguish a wolf from a coyote (and, indeed, hybrids), coyotes get put into that poor group of oppressed animals. For instance, the Canadian Parks and Wildlife Society tells the story of one radio-collared wolf (part of the Algonquin wolf population under intensive study) who travelled from Algonquin Park to Gatineau Park, just north of Ottawa, and then back to Algonquin Park, where his head was found nailed to a telephone pole near Round Lake. (Readers will note that the wolf’s journey took him across the Ottawa River twice — not a small feat.) Consequently, coyotes are threatened by the same dangers as wolves; viz., assholes. These assholes are a combination of farmers who kill them as a nuissance and hunters who kill them to ‘hone their skills‘ during ‘fun, off-season hunting‘ (graphic images).For more information on the Eastern Coyote, see canids.org and CPAWS. Red Wolves [pdf] are endangered in Canada and the United States. For more on the efforts to save and protect the Algonquin Wolf, see algonquinwolves.ca.
9 Comments
I know that wolf attacks on humans are rare (if they happen at all; I remember hearing the Sierra Club offered $10,000 to anyone who could prove they or someone else had been attacked by a wolf and no one claimed the prize. I also remember hearing a news story about five years ago about a wolf attacking a human in B.C., but I don’t remember any followup), but will a coyote attack a human?
Their pretty skittish, Tim, from what I hear. Even in packs. God but, they are so beautiful. Their song especially. Though maybe not in the Kantian sense..
Only if by “coyote” you mean “warg” (c.f., “Lord of the Rings”) or if by “human” you mean “looks like a dying deer or a young fawn”. However, like dogs, I’m sure if you treat them like crap — corner them, poke them, hit them, hurt them, scare them, etc — the coyote would have no choice but to attack. In situations like that, I’m on the side of the dogs and the coyotes.
Im practicing some survival skills in Ontario. I built a debris hut in the woods not far from my home. I want to sleep there at night but am nervous about the coyotes. I often hear what sounds like a large group of them and know they live somewhere in that surrounding bush although probably about a mile away. I often hear this goup singing even in broad daylight. Should I have any concerns at all or will they leave me alone. I often spot a single coyote on my walks and that dosnt bother me rather I count myself lucky, acutally once I saw a pair travelling together. I have this unfounded image of being approached as I sleep in this open air structure. Also I take my dog. Am I being ridiculous? Susan
Unless you’re a dying deer or a mouse or a lost lamb, I doubt there’s much to worry about. The only reason why you’d be concerned with them attacking you is if you start throwing rocks at them and piss them off! Like any other wild animal, they are most likely going to look at you, sniff the air, turn around and walk away. Chances are it isn’t more than four or five of them, anyway.
But, of course, I’m not a naturalist. Just someone who likes animals more than I like other people. Wolves and coyotes included.
some of us ‘assholes’ have beloved family pets who get taken & killed from our backyards like our cat two nights ago. I’m going to start hunting coyotes, you asshole!
I am sorry that your cat died. However, you must consider your role in the death of your pet. First, you allow your cat to be in your yard unsupervised. This is negligent behavior on your part. Second, your yard is clearly not secure given that a coyote was able to get in to it. Again, you are culpable for not only leaving your pets outside, but leaving them outside in an unsecured yard. Finally, you might considering hunting yourself given that your actions — or, more accurately, your steadfast refusal to act responsibly — lead directly to the death of your beloved pet.
some of us ‘assholes’ have beloved family pets who get taken & killed from our backyards like our cat two nights ago. I’m going to start hunting coyotes, you asshole!
That is the dumbest thing i ever heard!
i agree with craig
if you were to leave your cat in the house instead of letting it out and having it crap in other peoples flower beds and playground sandboxes, and being the communities problem maybe you would still have your pet . you are responsible for your pets death. truth hurts sometimes
I agree with Craig and Joe. I live at the base of a string of mountains in Arizona. We have a pack that roams the area and sings at night. Our house sits smack dab in the middle of an acre and therefore have a huge desert front yard all natural and not landscaped. I hear them almost nightly. I feel that if you have a pet then you accepted the responsibility of feeding and caring for what animal. Obviously if you are allowing a pet to go outside or is an outdoor animal then you are not being responsible. That cat could have easily been hit by a car or killed by a neighbors dog. If you choose to live in an area outside of town or on the outskirts then you need to be aware of all that entails.
We have 2 Labradors, one is 60 lbs and the other is 100 lbs, along with a a 10lb Pomeranian. They are indoor animals and are outside with us when we go outside. Our yard is secure, but we still go outside with them and turn on the security lights while out there. We have never had a problem. I think it comes down to a mutual respect. That is the problem, most people have no respect for nature or its creatures and lend to their own stupidity and lack of ability to accept responsibility for it.
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