Bounties on coyotes are both cruel and ineffective.  Widespread killing destroys family dynamics, causing more coyotes to breed.  Usually, only the dominant pair breed, but with coyotes scattered by a bounty, many more pairs form, and coyotes wind up breeding intensely to replace the coyotes killed.  There is also no indication as to how the coyotes are being killed.  A bounty leaves the door open for all kinds of abuse.  Recently four coyotes were run down and killed by an intentional snowmobile strike in Saskatchewan.  

It seems like Estevan has a very poor management of animals in general.  Rodenticides to control gophers and rats act as coyote attractants, causing the rodents to suffer strokes, making them easy for coyotes to catch.  The bait boxes are also a major attractant for coyotes and black bears.  Coyotes, bobcats, and pumas who consume rodents who have eaten rodenticide are very prone to mange.  There are fortunately many non lethal ways to manage rodent and coyote populations. http://www.rodenticidefree.ca/

http://www.coyotewatchcanada.com/

Coyote bounties are cruel and ineffective, and it's time Estevan recognizes this. Offering monetary incentives for the killing of coyotes not only disregards animal welfare but also disrupts the natural balance of our ecosystem. When coyote family dynamics are disrupted, it leads to an increase in breeding, exacerbating the very problem the bounty claims to address.  https://www.rmestevan.ca/post/coyote-bounty-2026

In Estevan, the current approach to wildlife management needs an urgent reform. With no animal bylaws in place, beyond a bylaw against animals running loose, the measures are neither sustainable nor ethical.  Estevan has an excellent no kill Humane Society though, that could definitely work with the municipality to develop really good bylaws and policies regarding all animals.  https://www.estevanhumanesociety.ca/

The coyote population control strategy is complemented by a poisoning program targeting gophers and rats using rodenticides. These rodenticides, apart from poisoning non-target species, slow down rodents, making them easy prey for coyotes. However, the consumption of these poisoned rodents adversely affects the coyotes, weakening their immune system and making them susceptible to mange.  

Furthermore, widespread culling fails to address the root causes of human-coyote conflict, such as human encroachment on wildlife habitats and improper waste management, which attract coyotes.

We urge the city council of Estevan to immediately halt the coyote bounty program, effective as of April 1st, 2026, and officially ban the use of rodenticides in our community. Instead, Estevan should invest in education and humane, long-term solutions that encourage coexistence. Initiatives like fencing, waste management improvements, and public education on living harmoniously with coyotes can lead the community forward in an ethical manner.  

Join us in making Estevan a pioneer in humane wildlife management practices by signing this petition today. Together, we can create a balanced ecosystem that respects both human and animal life. Please sign and share this petition to push for compassionate change in our community.