Coyotes call Kelowna home

Some Kelowna residents may have noticed four-legged newcomers in their neighbourhood.

Mission resident Emily Schmitz first noticed one of the camouflaged canids lounging in the sun next to a sidewalk on Casorso Road on Wednesday.

Schmitz, who has lived in the area for 19 years, says she initially thought the coyote was a loose dog.

"I walk everyday, but I've never, ever seen anything like this," says Schmitz.

"We've definitely noticed a spike in calls coming in, which isn't abnormal for this time of year," says Conservation Officer Terry Myroniuk, adding that the month of February traditionally brings coyotes into town.

February marks the beginning of breeding season, the time when last year's pups venture out on their own while at the same time there are food shortages in the wild.

"All those factors seem to collide in the month of February," says Myroniuk, adding that while danger to humans is low, small pets are in danger.

"It is quite typical that animals are mistaken for being aggressive toward the person when they have a pet. What is going through the coyotes mind is he is sizing up the situation to see if the risk of tangling with the human is worth the reward of maybe getting the pet as a snack."

But according to Kelowna trapper Ron Lancour, coyotes are becoming increasingly brave.

"It's ongoing, not only here in Kelowna, it's evident across Canada that coyotes are expanding in urban areas," says Lancour, who is also the Executive Director of the B.C. Trappers Association.

"These animals have become urbanized -- by living in the city they have lost their fear of people," says Lancour.

In the country, coyotes are often shot at and chased by farmers.

"They have a certain fear of people, but once a coyote becomes urbanized because nobody is controlling them, nobody is shooting at them, they lose their fear of people and subsequently, from that, problems could result."

"Certainly it is their nature that if there is a house cat or a small dog, that is lunch for them. If they happen to prey upon some, then they are going to relate the next one to being a meal whether they are on a leash or running loose."

As shooting within city limits is not allowed and coyotes are not easily trapped live, it is difficult to remove coyotes forcibly, says Lancour.

The solution is for people to make the coyote feel unwelcome by throwing stones or banging sticks together.

But not everyone is inclined to chase the coyote out of town.

"One person may hate that coyote because he has eaten their pet or their neighbours pet, and then there are others who love to see that urban wildlife. The coyote is in a catch-22 position."

Anyone who encounters a problematic coyote should call Conservation at 1-877-952-7277.