Hearing or seeing more coyotes in London? You're not alone

Coyotes are generally solitary animals that are far more curious than dangerous, but this time of year, wildlife experts say people living in the city should take precautions to keep their pets safe.

Londoner Tania Allan was woken up early Wednesday morning to the sounds of coyotes loudly fighting with a dog near her home in northeast London.

"Then all of a sudden it sounded like a dog barking, which turned into really loud whimpering and kind of crying that went on for 10 minutes then it went dead silent. No more whimpering, no more howling; then I saw a coyote run right beside my fence," Allan said.

This is the second time in as many weeks that she's heard coyotes attacking an animal near her Stoney Creek home and she urges anyone with pets to keep them indoors at night.

"I'm not calling for a witch hunt. It's not the coyote's fault. We're building and building and they have nowhere to go. I just want people to be cautious," Allan said.

More coyotes in general are venturing into the city thanks to a mixture of urban development encroaching on their territory and food being readily available for them, said Brian Salt of Salthaven Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre.

"This time of the year, coyotes will come into the city and climb trees to eat the fruit. The feral cat population has also increased significantly," Salt said. "I think if you have a cat and you really like them, you probably won't let them out at night right now."

What attracts them

Salt said he's heard of coyotes being spotted in the downtown, though they're more common on the city's outskirts. He said they're also experts at avoiding detecting, and will have multiple dens to do so. 

Many coyote pups born in the spring are also venturing out on their own at this time to try an establish territory and find mates, said Brandon Williamson, the land management coordinator with the Upper Thames River Conservation authority.

"They're also trying to gather food for the winter time as well," Williamson said.

In addition to keeping pets indoors, he said making sure that pet feces, pet food and any garbage is sealed up or cleared out of backyards to discourage them from wandering in.

"Bird feeders also attract coyotes, so do squirrels and birds and rodents and that kind of thing," he said.

City officials urge anyone who encounters a coyote to keep their distance, pick up any small children and pets and leave the area slowly before reporting the sighting to the city through their online form.

"The last thing you want to do is run away from the coyote — that can activate their prey drive. Just make yourself big, make loud noises, sudden movements, all those things will deter them," Salt said.