Asleep on a front lawn or strolling through playground, Mississauga coyotes aren’t shy

Coyote sightings are becoming more common in Mississauga and across the GTA, and the wild animals are becoming much bolder.

That’s why, according to animal control officials, it’s best to scare the unwanted creatures away rather than encourage them to drop by for treats–or even bigger meals.

Not many years ago, Mississauga residents would likely only cross paths with a coyote late at night and in or near wooded areas.

But that’s not the case anymore. For several reasons, including that many people have taken to leaving food out in hopes of attracting the beasts, coyotes aren’t shy about wandering close to the humans with whom they live in relatively close quarters.

Responding to a story last week about coyotes being sighted in Brampton in greater numbers, Mississauga resident Lisa Van Thyn offered the following:

“It’s ironic you mention someone reported seeing a coyote cross on a red light in Brampton,” she commented online in response to the story. “Two weeks ago, I saw one casually trot across the street here in Mississauga. It was 7:30 a.m. and the coyote crossed Dundas Street at Winston Churchill Blvd. on the green light.”

City of Mississauga coyote sightings map shows reported sightings across the city and in cases where animal services officers responded, includes a brief description of the incident.

Recently on Reddit, the popular social news and discussion website, a west Mississauga resident related a story about walking his small dog last winter near Eglinton Ave. and Glen Erin Dr. when they encountered an aggressive coyote.

According to the man’s account, the animal ran out from the bushes and lunged for the leashed dog.

“I held my dog above my head and screamed bloody murder while kicking my legs at the coyote,” the man wrote, adding the coyote continued to lunge at him in efforts to get the small dog.

“I flagged down a passing car and the driver let me in as the coyote charged the car.”

The resident said he reported the incident to City of Mississauga Animal Services, who told him such incidents are extremely rare.

They told him “I must have been too close to its den.”

On Mississauga Animal Services’ “Coyote Sightings Interactive Map,” which can be viewed online, several recent incidents have been recorded that show the wild animals aren’t too shy to get close to people.

A Nov. 4 incident at a home on Tenth Line in Meadowvale, just north of Battleford Rd., was attended by Animal Services officers.

They reported: “Coyote sleeping on front lawn. Officer hazed. Coyote was not very fearful of officer.”

“Hazing” is, essentially, using various actions and tools to scare coyotes out of the area. Officials say it’s crucial to keeping coyotes from becoming even more comfortable in neighbourhoods and around schools.

A Feb. 24 incident at Munden Park Public School near Cawthra Rd. and the QEW, in which Animal Services was also dispatched, prompted this report:

“(Coyote) circling around schools. Very healthy.”

City of Mississauga coyote sightings map shows a brief description of a Dec. 14 sighting at Serson Park, near Lakeview Library.

And more recently, on Dec. 14, responding officers confirmed that a coyote was “spotted in playground” at Serson Park in the southeast part of the city.

Animal Services officers have a clear message for people when it comes to leaving food out for coyotes: Don’t do it.

City of Mississauga wildlife services said earlier this year that while ongoing efforts to educate people about coyotes and other wildlife in the city have successfully driven that message home to many, others aren’t complying.

“People are either fearful of coyotes or they want to see them up closer, so they’ll feed them…throw food off the balcony (into greenspace areas). It’s a mixed response,” Jay Smith, Mississauga’s manager of wildlife services, said earlier.

He added that while increased fines for such activity may deter many, his department is focusing more on educating residents to the pitfalls of feeding coyotes and other wildlife such as skunks and raccoons.  

Anyone caught purposely feeding coyotes can be fined $300.

City of Mississauga coyote sightings map shows reported sightings in 2021 to date. Green dots are sightings while the light purple dots (much fewer in number) indicate incidents in which animal services officers responded.