Cambridge city officials warn pet owners about coyote sightings

Pet owners around Waterloo region are being warned to keep a close eye on their pets after a number of sightings in area parks.

Dog owners can do a lot to protect their pets from coyotes, including picking up after them and keeping them on a leash, one Cambridge official says.

"Leave wildlife alone when they encounter them. They can become aggressive if they feel threatened," said Dennis Purcell, Cambridge's director of building and enforcement and chief building official. "Certainly don't be feeding them."

It's spring, which means coyotes may have pups, which can make them more aggressive than they would be at other times of the year.

Dog attacked at Churchill Park

Purcell said coyotes are attracted to dog feces, so it's important for people walking their dogs to clean up after them.

"If the dogs are running at large and coyotes feel threatened or feel their territory is being invaded, that's what causes the problem," he said.

They know about a coyote and pups in Churchill Park in Cambridge, where one dog owner reported her Jack Russell terrier was attacked. There have been other sightings around the region, which in recent years have become common.

Purcell said the city, which does not handle wildlife, has contacted the province's Ministry of Natural Resources. The ministry suggested hiring a person who could deal with the coyote humanely.

'Learn to co-exist'

Pet owners and hikers have seemed to have had increased run-ins with coyotes in the past few years.

In February 2016, a dog was attacked in its owner's backyard in the Stanley Park area.

At the time, Josh Shea, natural areas co-ordinator for Kitchener, said residents need to understand the coyotes live in the city, too.

"In general, they live in our parks and our green spaces and our natural areas ... These are urban coyotes," he said.

"We often get asked a lot about can we remove them, can we get rid of them. They're living in our city, and they're going to be living in our city, so the best thing we can try and do is learn to co-exist, learn to understand and be as adaptable as possible."