While the City of Toronto and Coyote Watch Canada have verified that hazing is working, and no more incidents have occurred, MPP Chris Glover writes this article based on the Coyote Safety Coalition’s daily complaints, most of which consist of normal coyote behaviour like shadowing and preying on small animals. And the alleged bite on the jogger was probably a dog bite, considering how many off leash dogs in the city have bitten people.
By removed he means shot by Johnny the Critter Gitter.
Contact him here to voice objection to killing coyotes.
Office of MPP Chris Glover, Spadina-Fort York
226 Bathurst Street, Unit A, Toronto, ON M5T 2R9 | 416-603-9664 | cglover-co@ndp.on.ca
Queen's Park - Room 241, Toronto, ON M7A 1A8 | 416-326-7196 | cglover-qp@ndp.on.ca
“Coyote Update
In March, the City of Toronto presented the findings of the Downtown Coyote Response Expert Panel. Since fall 2024 (the same time the trees were removed on the West Island) there has been a noticeable increase in incidents with coyotes in the neighbourhoods adjacent to Ontario Place.
I am very concerned with the daily reports of coyote attacks in our riding. I’ve been meeting regularly with residents and wildlife experts to determine what the best solution is. I recognize that this is not the fault of the coyotes as they are just trying to survive, and that the destruction of Ontario Place seems to have triggered this behaviour. But the dangers to our community are too high.
I spoke with a resident last week whose dog was attacked and then watched the same coyote attack two others on the same stretch of land at 2 Tecumseth. Two dogs were killed in the last two days. Someone sitting alone in Trillium Park without a dog was rushed by two coyotes. A jogger with no dog was attacked and had injuries severe enough they required to be taken away by ambulance. On Tuesday evening, there were three incidents at Garrison Park. Based on the descriptions given, it appears to be the same coyote with a mange tail involved in these attacks.
We need a sustainable plan to manage coyotes in the city and what we are currently doing is not working. I’ve called several sanctuaries and they have all said they are only able to take animals for rehabilitation that will be released into the wild. Unfortunately, I think the only option that remains is that the coyotes must be removed.”
Here is my response.
Toronto really needs to ban rodenticides. They are the driving factor here. Rats eat the bait, get sick, slow down, and get eaten by coyotes, who get sick, get mange, look pathetic, and get fed by people. Bait boxes are also food, poisoned food. They should be included in the feeding ban.
However, the mange may be what ultimately could save the coyotes if things get worse. The coyotes could be live captured by Toronto Wildlife Centre, and/or by other agencies, and brought to Toronto Wildlife Centre or another rehabilitation centre for treatment. Wildlife rehabilitation centres are more than one kilometre from Liberty Village, but can still take animals from anywhere in the province. There is really no legal time limit on how long a coyote can stay there. The coyotes could be transferred to a sanctuary style rehabilitation centre like Aspen Valley Wildlife Centre. And, if you recall, Urban 23 was brought to TWC, released, became a nuisance animal, was brought back to TWC, transferred to AVWC, then released back into the wild by AVWC (no idea where, but an animal needs to be released 1km from where captured, unless one gets a special permit, so if a wildlife centre takes in an animal, they theoretically could release them on the rehabilitation grounds.).
Relocation permits have also been granted to plenty of wildlife. A moose in Rama Ontario was recently relocated, obviously more than one kilometre from the casino.
Liz White said that poison should be banned back in 2022. And Councillor Michael Thompson tried to ban cruel pest control and regulate companies back in 2014, but didn’t get to because the fur industry fought back. There is still no regulation on pest control companies like Critter Gitter, Orkin, Abell, etc. Rodenticides can be used anywhere and everywhere. Please ban poison and cruel traps, and add pest control companies to the list of businesses that require a licence.
https://www.change.org/p/protect-the-liberty-village-coyotes-in-toronto
City update.
https://www.change.org/p/protect-the-liberty-village-coyotes-in-toronto/u/33437775