Justice for the Liberty Village Coyotes Shot and Murdered in Toronto!
Justice for the Liberty Village Coyotes Shot and Murdered in Toronto!
The Issue
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/animals-pets/wildlife-in-the-city/coyotes/
Toronto hired a hunter to shoot to death two mated coyotes in May after people complained about them, potentially orphaning cubs (the city denies any puppies, but confirmed the adults were shot). The coyote killer Critter Gitter confirmed there were no pups, but one has to wonder how he confirmed that. There were several sanctuaries willing to adopt the coyotes, despite the city stating “there was no room”. They could have stayed at Toronto Wildlife Centre until a permanent home could be found. Toronto had hired Johnny the Critter Gitter, who has infamously killed coyotes and beavers, to “manage” the coyotes in Liberty Village. He is the same trapper who was hired to kill Neville Coyote in the Beaches in 2009. (Neville was spared after petitions and letters to council and members of provincial parliament). We are devastated by the killing of coyotes and hiring of pest control. https://www.torontotoday.ca/local/policy/calls-to-euthanize-coyotes-divide-liberty-village-residents-10501283?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR75yDxydDtnsRNdN_EV5abilcuBN1zkpiIljF7y0-0l6R79v852Q_3wd_k_lQ_aem_BqfDzIo6d5Q8hL5uDPHhXQ
In Liberty Village, there is a growing conflict between humans, dogs, and coyotes. The coyotes posed no threat to humans because their phobia is against dogs. A coyote will hyper fixate on a dog and not notice the human, because the human is of no interest to the coyote. Hazing distracts the coyote, breaking the behaviour pattern and stops the coyote from attacking the dog.
Oakville is doing the right thing by banning dogs from areas where coyotes are raising their families. https://www.oakville.ca/home-environment/pets-wildlife/coyotes/
Toronto has a recent report on Liberty Village. https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/95c8-Community-Guide-Coyotes-in-Downtown-Toronto.pdf
At a recent meeting on the coyotes, an Indigenous elder from Turtle Protecters was extremely knowledgeable. She spoke so eloquently about dogs being family, and expanding that concept of family to coyotes and all creation. Toronto Wildlife Centre also made the obvious point that killing or relocating coyotes is useless because the coyotes are not the problem. Feeding coyotes, directly and indirectly, destroying habitat, and keeping dogs off leash, thus causing the coyotes to develop a phobia of dogs, are the real dangers, so hazing the coyotes so they will relocate themselves, and education on the problem with feeding, are the only effective solutions. https://www.torontowildlifecentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Liberty-Village-Coyote-Situation-1.pdf
Killing animals or relocating them breaks up the family. Removing the mother leaves adolescent and older child girl puppies without the pheromones of the mother. When a coyote mother goes into estrus, her scent prevents the other females from estrus. But removing her removes the pheromones, so the females and males disperse and create more breeding pairs. Toronto is fully aware of this, and yet targeted a mated pair.
Sadly, the meeting seemed stacked with people who wanted the coyotes removed. I found it very disturbing that people kept saying they were “considering all the options”. I understood this is a euphemism for considering killing the coyotes.
Killing coyotes, as pointed out by the humane rescue organization Toronto Wildlife Centre, usually involves body gripping traps like Coneybear snap traps, that are designed to break the animal’s neck or back, severing the spine. This is touted as “humane euthanasia”, due to results from laboratory animal testing, but in the field, many animals get the nearly impossible to open giant snap traps stuck on their nose, head, ears, bum, or tail. Leghold traps break feet and animals often bite their feet off to escape. https://thefurbearers.com/blog/leg-hold-traps-are-legal-and-may-be-in-your-community/
Snares strangle the animals and cut into the neck. Toronto Wildlife Centre has rescued animals from these in the past. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DcpXLjvUu/ “Relaxing Snares” are said to be “humane” like catch poles, but they too often strangle an animal or cut circulation off from the feet if caught on a leg. Many dogs and cats, and even children have been caught or even killed in coyote traps. https://thefurbearers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-26-PR-Pearl-vf.pdf
https://thefurbearers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-11-12-News_Pets_in_traps-BC.pdf
Shooting is very dangerous too. Recently two dogs in Elgin were killed by a coyote hunter (the dogs resembled coyotes). Shooting a fast moving animal usually involves multiple shots and coyotes are often injured and die from infection or lead poisoning. https://nationalanimalnews.com/familys-2-german-shepherds-shot-and-killed-by-coyote-hunter/
We would like the City of Toronto to ban lethal methods of “pest” control. A ban on cruel traps should include a ban on rodenticides and glue boards. Rodenticide bait goes up the foodchain and is prevalent throughout Liberty Village and other nearby areas. https://www.facebook.com/RFOntario/
The City of Toronto feeds rodents poisoned food in bait containers in city parks, that attract coyotes to the premises, exposing coyotes to mange and anticoagulants, and making them sluggish. People will feed them out of pity. https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/public-notices-bylaws/bylaw-enforcement/property-standards-keep/rodent-control/
Toronto is discussing changing bylaws on animal businesses. However, pest control companies are not registered or licensed businesses in Toronto. https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/new-businesses-startups/business-regulations/licence-types/
They can use virtually any method. The rodenticide bait boxes are major attractants, both with strong scented poisonous food, and poisoned weakened rats and mice crawling around, feeding and poisoning coyotes, thus further altering their behaviour. Toronto attempted to regulate pest control companies in 2014, but the fur industry successfully fought back, thus leaving pest control and trapping a largely unregulated industry. The City of Toronto allows and encourages extremely cruel rodent control methods like poisons and glue traps. https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/city-administration/corporate-policies/people-equity-policies/indoor-insect-control/ And, despite this post from the city, rodents don’t die in their burrows. They die weeks or days later and are eaten by other animals. https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/food-safety/food-safety-for-businesses/food-safety-resources/preparation-food-service-processes/
Removing the “problem” animals is not the solution either. These “problem” coyotes are simply reflecting human behaviour. If we change, so do they.
Humane, non lethal methods take longer, but are long lasting if not permanent. Adding animal proof bins, expanding Animal Services to 24/7, education about the feeding ban, enforcing leash laws, fixing holes, building dog parks, and helping coyotes see dogs as neutral instead of a threat, will change things.
Toronto is upgrading its coyote policy. This is an opportunity to ban lethal methods, as many cities have done. Niagara Falls is the best city for coyote management. They restrict leghold and killer traps, have coyote coexistence strategies written in their Animal Bylaw, and have virtually no coyote related incidents. Many cities have banned trapping outright, and have no coyote issues whatsoever. I now live in Beaconsfield Quebec, which bans outdoor traps, and I have never come across a coyote. https://thefurbearers.com/our-work/make-fur-history/trapping/trapping-bylaws/
I used to live in Toronto, and saw coyotes with no issues. The coyotes in Liberty Village are growing increasingly fearful due to conflicts with off-leash dogs. Out of fear, coyotes are even attacking leashed dogs. These beautiful creatures, integral to our ecosystem, are living in fear and this situation must be addressed. Failure to enforce leash laws is endangering the wildlife that calls our city home, specifically the resident coyotes of Liberty Village.
The city of Toronto's current lackadaisical approach to enforcing leash laws is exacerbating the issue. This ineffective law enforcement is leading to more human-wildlife conflicts, putting both our beloved pets and wildlife at risk. Moreover, studies have shown that coyote attacks are more likely to occur when dogs are off-leash, as the coyotes perceive them as a threat (Harris Environmental Group Inc., 2017 Report on Urban Coyotes).
I firmly believe that with active involvement, we can bring about change. By enforcing the leash laws, we can ensure a harmonious coexistence with these magnificent animals and protect our four-legged friends.
No creature should be subjected to fear in its natural environment. Compliance with leash laws is a small step with huge benefits for the local wildlife as well as our pets. Please sign this petition to help encourage Toronto to enforce leash laws to protect the coyotes of Liberty Village as well as our beloved pets.
1,948
The Issue
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/animals-pets/wildlife-in-the-city/coyotes/
Toronto hired a hunter to shoot to death two mated coyotes in May after people complained about them, potentially orphaning cubs (the city denies any puppies, but confirmed the adults were shot). The coyote killer Critter Gitter confirmed there were no pups, but one has to wonder how he confirmed that. There were several sanctuaries willing to adopt the coyotes, despite the city stating “there was no room”. They could have stayed at Toronto Wildlife Centre until a permanent home could be found. Toronto had hired Johnny the Critter Gitter, who has infamously killed coyotes and beavers, to “manage” the coyotes in Liberty Village. He is the same trapper who was hired to kill Neville Coyote in the Beaches in 2009. (Neville was spared after petitions and letters to council and members of provincial parliament). We are devastated by the killing of coyotes and hiring of pest control. https://www.torontotoday.ca/local/policy/calls-to-euthanize-coyotes-divide-liberty-village-residents-10501283?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR75yDxydDtnsRNdN_EV5abilcuBN1zkpiIljF7y0-0l6R79v852Q_3wd_k_lQ_aem_BqfDzIo6d5Q8hL5uDPHhXQ
In Liberty Village, there is a growing conflict between humans, dogs, and coyotes. The coyotes posed no threat to humans because their phobia is against dogs. A coyote will hyper fixate on a dog and not notice the human, because the human is of no interest to the coyote. Hazing distracts the coyote, breaking the behaviour pattern and stops the coyote from attacking the dog.
Oakville is doing the right thing by banning dogs from areas where coyotes are raising their families. https://www.oakville.ca/home-environment/pets-wildlife/coyotes/
Toronto has a recent report on Liberty Village. https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/95c8-Community-Guide-Coyotes-in-Downtown-Toronto.pdf
At a recent meeting on the coyotes, an Indigenous elder from Turtle Protecters was extremely knowledgeable. She spoke so eloquently about dogs being family, and expanding that concept of family to coyotes and all creation. Toronto Wildlife Centre also made the obvious point that killing or relocating coyotes is useless because the coyotes are not the problem. Feeding coyotes, directly and indirectly, destroying habitat, and keeping dogs off leash, thus causing the coyotes to develop a phobia of dogs, are the real dangers, so hazing the coyotes so they will relocate themselves, and education on the problem with feeding, are the only effective solutions. https://www.torontowildlifecentre.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Liberty-Village-Coyote-Situation-1.pdf
Killing animals or relocating them breaks up the family. Removing the mother leaves adolescent and older child girl puppies without the pheromones of the mother. When a coyote mother goes into estrus, her scent prevents the other females from estrus. But removing her removes the pheromones, so the females and males disperse and create more breeding pairs. Toronto is fully aware of this, and yet targeted a mated pair.
Sadly, the meeting seemed stacked with people who wanted the coyotes removed. I found it very disturbing that people kept saying they were “considering all the options”. I understood this is a euphemism for considering killing the coyotes.
Killing coyotes, as pointed out by the humane rescue organization Toronto Wildlife Centre, usually involves body gripping traps like Coneybear snap traps, that are designed to break the animal’s neck or back, severing the spine. This is touted as “humane euthanasia”, due to results from laboratory animal testing, but in the field, many animals get the nearly impossible to open giant snap traps stuck on their nose, head, ears, bum, or tail. Leghold traps break feet and animals often bite their feet off to escape. https://thefurbearers.com/blog/leg-hold-traps-are-legal-and-may-be-in-your-community/
Snares strangle the animals and cut into the neck. Toronto Wildlife Centre has rescued animals from these in the past. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DcpXLjvUu/ “Relaxing Snares” are said to be “humane” like catch poles, but they too often strangle an animal or cut circulation off from the feet if caught on a leg. Many dogs and cats, and even children have been caught or even killed in coyote traps. https://thefurbearers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-02-26-PR-Pearl-vf.pdf
https://thefurbearers.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-11-12-News_Pets_in_traps-BC.pdf
Shooting is very dangerous too. Recently two dogs in Elgin were killed by a coyote hunter (the dogs resembled coyotes). Shooting a fast moving animal usually involves multiple shots and coyotes are often injured and die from infection or lead poisoning. https://nationalanimalnews.com/familys-2-german-shepherds-shot-and-killed-by-coyote-hunter/
We would like the City of Toronto to ban lethal methods of “pest” control. A ban on cruel traps should include a ban on rodenticides and glue boards. Rodenticide bait goes up the foodchain and is prevalent throughout Liberty Village and other nearby areas. https://www.facebook.com/RFOntario/
The City of Toronto feeds rodents poisoned food in bait containers in city parks, that attract coyotes to the premises, exposing coyotes to mange and anticoagulants, and making them sluggish. People will feed them out of pity. https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/public-notices-bylaws/bylaw-enforcement/property-standards-keep/rodent-control/
Toronto is discussing changing bylaws on animal businesses. However, pest control companies are not registered or licensed businesses in Toronto. https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/new-businesses-startups/business-regulations/licence-types/
They can use virtually any method. The rodenticide bait boxes are major attractants, both with strong scented poisonous food, and poisoned weakened rats and mice crawling around, feeding and poisoning coyotes, thus further altering their behaviour. Toronto attempted to regulate pest control companies in 2014, but the fur industry successfully fought back, thus leaving pest control and trapping a largely unregulated industry. The City of Toronto allows and encourages extremely cruel rodent control methods like poisons and glue traps. https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/accountability-operations-customer-service/city-administration/corporate-policies/people-equity-policies/indoor-insect-control/ And, despite this post from the city, rodents don’t die in their burrows. They die weeks or days later and are eaten by other animals. https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/food-safety/food-safety-for-businesses/food-safety-resources/preparation-food-service-processes/
Removing the “problem” animals is not the solution either. These “problem” coyotes are simply reflecting human behaviour. If we change, so do they.
Humane, non lethal methods take longer, but are long lasting if not permanent. Adding animal proof bins, expanding Animal Services to 24/7, education about the feeding ban, enforcing leash laws, fixing holes, building dog parks, and helping coyotes see dogs as neutral instead of a threat, will change things.
Toronto is upgrading its coyote policy. This is an opportunity to ban lethal methods, as many cities have done. Niagara Falls is the best city for coyote management. They restrict leghold and killer traps, have coyote coexistence strategies written in their Animal Bylaw, and have virtually no coyote related incidents. Many cities have banned trapping outright, and have no coyote issues whatsoever. I now live in Beaconsfield Quebec, which bans outdoor traps, and I have never come across a coyote. https://thefurbearers.com/our-work/make-fur-history/trapping/trapping-bylaws/
I used to live in Toronto, and saw coyotes with no issues. The coyotes in Liberty Village are growing increasingly fearful due to conflicts with off-leash dogs. Out of fear, coyotes are even attacking leashed dogs. These beautiful creatures, integral to our ecosystem, are living in fear and this situation must be addressed. Failure to enforce leash laws is endangering the wildlife that calls our city home, specifically the resident coyotes of Liberty Village.
The city of Toronto's current lackadaisical approach to enforcing leash laws is exacerbating the issue. This ineffective law enforcement is leading to more human-wildlife conflicts, putting both our beloved pets and wildlife at risk. Moreover, studies have shown that coyote attacks are more likely to occur when dogs are off-leash, as the coyotes perceive them as a threat (Harris Environmental Group Inc., 2017 Report on Urban Coyotes).
I firmly believe that with active involvement, we can bring about change. By enforcing the leash laws, we can ensure a harmonious coexistence with these magnificent animals and protect our four-legged friends.
No creature should be subjected to fear in its natural environment. Compliance with leash laws is a small step with huge benefits for the local wildlife as well as our pets. Please sign this petition to help encourage Toronto to enforce leash laws to protect the coyotes of Liberty Village as well as our beloved pets.
1,948
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Petition created on February 16, 2025