HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-02-09, Page 66 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Ministry of Natural Resources
Lakeshore Advance
Coyotes, like other wild animals, sometimes
come into conflict with humins.
Since migrating to Ontario from the west over
100 years ago, coyotes have adapted well to urban
environments and can now he found in both rural
and urban settings. Changes in land use,
agricultural practices, weather and natural food
shortages may contribute to increased coyote
sightings in your community.
Coyotes, like other wild animals, sometimes
come into conflict with humans.
Behaviour
Since migrating to Ontario more than IOl) years
ago, the coyote has adapted well to both rural and
urban environments. 'Ile eastern coyote is now an
integral and permanent part of our diverse
landscape, and performs an important role as a top
predator in southern Ontario where most other
Targe predators, such as bears and wolves, are no
longer present.
Many people hear coyotes without ever seeing
them because of their nighttime howls, barks,
throat growls and yips. Coyotes howl to broadcast
occupancy of their territory and keep members of
the family group aware of each other's locations
while hunting or traveling alone. Howling may also
help coordinate some hunting activities.
Coyotes are usually wary of humans and avoid
people whenever possible. They have adapted well
to living near humans and development. In urban
areas coyotes tend to be nocturnal. They typically
roam at night looking for food and spend the
daylight hours bedded in bushy or wooded areas.
Although unusual, coyotes in urban areas may
search for food during the day and may prey on
small dogs and other pets from yards in residential
areas and from green spaces.
it is unusual for coyotes to show no fear of
humans. Coyotes displaying no fear of humans
or exhibiting aggressive behaviours have likely
been habituated to people through direct feed -
Ing or indirect feeding, such as leaving attract-
ants like pet food outside near homes. in
these situations, this aggres-
sive behaviour tends to
be restricted to a
single animal or
family group,
and not the
general
population.
Life cycle
Mated
pairs usually
breed in
February,
with pups
born in
April or
May. Lit-
ters aver-
age five or six
pups, but can
range from two to 10.
Roth parents share
pup -rearing duties, and
begin to teach the pups
hunting skills when the
pups are about eight to 10
weeks old.
Juveniles usually leave
their parents' territory
during their first autumn or
winter to establish their
own territory. "Packs" of
coyotes are generally an
adult breeding pair and
their pups from the
most recent litter.
LIVING IN LAMBTON SHORES...
A weekly Update on the Municipal Events in your Community
Administration Department - 7883 Amteleoom Parkway, P.O, Box 810, Forest, Ontario NON 1J0
Tel: 1-877-786-2335, 519-786-2335, Fax: 519-786-2135, Email: administrations'Iambtonshores.c:a
Visit our Web Site at www,lambtonshorea.ca
2011 TAX NOTICE
The Interim 2011 Tax Notices have been Issued. The Installment
due dates are February 28'" and May 31st.
Payments may be made by PRE -AUTHORIZED withdrawal -
forms are available at the Municipal offices or on our website -
www.lambtonshores.ca, mall, Internet or telephone banking, or in
person at any of the 3 offices.
If you have not received your bill by February 18"' please contact
our office at 1-886-2954232 or 619-238-8461.
A Warm Thanks
to our Crossing Guards!
On behalf of all the kids who attend the Forest
schools and their parents we thank our crosaing
guards for doing what you do.
We know It's been a tough winter but spring is Just around the
oomer, so hang In there.
Thanks again for doing what you do so well, we appreciate It.
NOTICE of MEETINGS
to DISCUSS th• 2011
LAMBTON SHORES
BUDGET
Please be advised that the
Municipality of Lambton Shores
Council will be discussing the
2011 Budget at the regular
Council meeting held Tuesday,
February 15m, 2011 at the
Thedford Village Complex, with
the meeting commencing at
2:00 p.m.
If required, budget discussions
will continue at the regular
Council meeting scheduled for
March 15th, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.
COMMUNITY GROUPS
Lambton Shores is accepting submissions for the listing of upcoming events In the community from any
community group or organization for inclusion in the Living and Playing In Lambton Shows newsletter.
Please submit events for March, April and May. We are also interested In any suggestions for articles
from community groups. A listing in the newsletter will be at no cost and provided space is available we
will try to include as many articles as we can.
Please send events and suggestions for articles to Ashley Farr, Facilitator of Recreation and Leisure by
fax at 519-243-3500 or email rafganiambignabgius& no later than Friday, February 1211, 2011.
Diet
Coyotes are opportunistic feeders
and will consume a variety of foods,
including meat, carrion (dead animals),
fruits and vegetable matter. in winter,
their diet consists vainly of rabbits,
hares and deer when deep snow restricts
the deer's mobility. In spring, summer
and fall, coyotes prey mainly on small
mammals (rodents, rabbits, mice and
voles) and eat wild berries, birds,
amphibians, grasshoppers, and deer
fawns.
Because their diet consists mainly of
small rodents, coyotes can be very
beneficial in controlling pests that may
cause damage to crops and orchards.
Ilowever, livestock such as sheep, lambs
and calves can also be prey to coyotes.
Habitat
Coyotes are highly adaptable. They
1
are most commonly associated with
open, agricultural landscapes
interspersed with woodlots and other
brushy terrain. However, they also
inhabit green spaces and industrial
areas within cities.
Populations
Coyote populations normally fluctu-
ate in response to the abundance or
scarcity of food. When food supplies are
limited, they experience higher mortal-
ity rates and lower reproduction rates.
Only 20 to 50 per cent of pups survive
their first year. 1lunuatns account for
most coyote deaths through hunting,
trapping and motor -vehicle accidents.
Impact of Harvesting on
Populations
Within each territory, one breeding
pair of coyotes produces a single litter of
pups each year. 'These breeding males
and females tend to have relatively high
survival rates because of their familiarity
with their territory acid their reduced
tendency to "take risks':
Most harvested coyotes are juveniles
that have left their parents' territories
and are looking for their own territory
and mate. l fauvest by humans does little
to disrupt breeding or reduce coyote
numbers from one year to the next.
Without a territory, most of the juvenile
coyotes harvested would likely have
died of other causes in a relatively short
period of time anyway.
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