A recent increase in Coyote sightings around Dundas should not cause alarm, if residents take some simple precautions.

Ministry of Natural Resources and City of Hamilton animal control staff say never leaving food outside, keeping cats indoors and making sure dogs are leashed and supervised at all times will ensure neighbourhood coyotes don’t make their next meal out of a family pet.

Art Timmerman, a ministry wildlife biologist, and Hamilton animal control manager Paul Buckle agree reports of coyotes are growing as the wild animals and humans encroach into each other’s territory. Experts believe coyote populations are on an upswing.

Definitely an increase

“There’s definitely an increase,” Timmerman said. “Coyotes are a hot item all over Ontario.”

A total of six coyote sightings in Dundas have been reported since November. Five of those sightings came between Jan. 15 and 26.

Among those recent sightings are reports of Coyotes on Osler Drive, near Wentworth Lodge, in the middle of Lynden Avenue and on the rail trail behind Dundana Public School.

But Buckle assures residents the animal does not pose a serious threat to humans.

“They are a cautious, non-confrontational animal,” he said. “They’ll sit and watch you. They’re curious.”

Coyotes' natural instinct is to avoid contact with humans, and people are safe if they leave the animal alone, he said.

Problems start, however, when people leave food outside, or even intentionally feed the animals, and coyotes begin to perceive humans as a food source.

Buckle said coyotes can become “habitualized” to people and will lose their natural instinct of fear.

“Humans are not on the menu,” Buckle said, but added the animal will eat cats, and unleashed dogs in a yard would certainly be susceptible to coyote attacks when the animal becomes habitualized to humans. “They see a dog as a competitor for food,” he said.

That means leaving pet food outside with your pet, or having your pet off leash, is a mistake anywhere in Dundas near a ravine or wooded area.

“They’re opportunistic,” Timmerman said of the growing coyote population. “They assess the risk of going after different kinds of food. They’ll take cats or dogs if it’s worth the risk. If there’s an opportunity to get food, they’ll take it.”

Buckle advised residents who see a coyote to report it to animal control, so records can be updated. But there isn’t much to worry about if confronted by a coyote.

“Stay calm. Make a loud noise, make yourself look bigger. You can scare them away,” Buckle said. “Do not run away from them. That triggers their hunting instinct. Just exercise reasonable caution.

“You’re more at risk of the dogs living in your neighbourhood than the coyotes living in your neighbourhood.”