Wildlife

Coyotes are not dangerous to people. Rare cases of contact usually happen when they’re fed or protecting their den. Their bite is weaker than most dogs.

Coyotes hunt small animals like rabbits and squirrels but will also eat garbage, fruit or insects. They don’t see people as prey and are usually scared of us. However, if they get used to finding food near people, they can become less afraid and may show up more often—especially on garbage days.

To prevent coyote attacks on humans, modern wildlife management focuses on behavioural conditioning (also called ‘hazing’ or ‘aversive conditioning’). This practice aims to change a coyote’s behaviour by making every human encounter unpleasant for the animal. It only works if we all respond to coyote encounters aggressively. If a coyote approaches, make it feel unwelcome—it should not feel comfortable around people.

Take these immediate steps:

• Clap your hands loudly and firmly toward the animal.
• Respond aggressively by making yourself appear large (wave your arms or swing objects like a walking stick).
• Throw rocks, sticks or other objects to scare it away.
• Carry a whistle or air horn and use it to startle the coyote.
• Carry dog spray in areas where coyotes are often seen.
• Shout in a deep voice and maintain eye contact.
• Do not turn away or run—this may trigger a predator/prey instinct and cause the coyote to chase you.
• If it continues to approach, back away slowly and move toward buildings or human activity. Coyotes may stay near food sources or a den site—remove attractants where possible.

The presence of coyotes in Morinville is a sign of a healthy, balanced ecosystem. Coyotes are naturally curious and intelligent. It is common to see them travelling through parks, green spaces, roads and sidewalks while watching people and pets from a distance.

However, coyotes that have been desensitized to humans through food conditioning or those protecting their dens or pups from off-leash dogs may become aggressive.

Call Enforcement Services when:

• A coyote makes contact with you or your pet or is exhibiting fearless or aggressive behaviour
• Someone is intentionally feeding coyotes
• You suspect a coyote den with pups is in a residential area

Most coyote-related calls do not require intervention and typically involve sightings of normal behaviour (e.g., hunting small rodents, following from a distance of more than 20 metres, watching people from a far distance). When a coyote incident is reported, it is investigated and assessed. The response may include public education, behaviour management strategies such as hazing, ongoing monitoring, or lethal removal. The approach taken is based on what best supports public safety and encourages appropriate wildlife behaviour. Lethal management of coyotes is always done as a last resort. 

Coyote reports generally fall into one of four categories:

• Sighting with no obvious threat to people
  • Information is logged to help identify activity hotspots
• Sighting or encounter with potential threat to people or pets
  • Flagged for review; may trigger light hazing or area monitoring
• Contact between a coyote and a person or pet; a den is found in a residential area
  • Investigation and possible hazing; residents may be given recommendations
• Multiple encounters or a person is bitten
  • Full investigation; lethal removal may be required