Cease Coyote Hunting on Niagara 12 Landfill

This petition is in response to a motion made on Sept 3, 2008 by Public Works Committee to permit members of the Ontario Federation of Hunters and Anglers to enter the Niagara Road 12 Landfill areas to hunt and kill coyotes.

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 Some valid information pertaining to the humane control of coyotes in California:

-A state that had an on-going problem with coyotes. However, in the past decade California has shown positive results with non-lethal coyote control. By sharing some of their studies and public information, it may shed light on how to respond to the situation in our own back yard.

The California Statistics Service found that in areas where coyote populations have been lethally controlled, the ratio of females to males increase and animals from outside areas quickly fill the void! Coyote control causes an increase in litter size (from 4 to 10 pups) and increases the number of yearling females breeding. Like wolves, coyotes allow only the alpha pair to breed and disruptions to the pack cause all females within that pack to breed.
Killing Coyotes Increases Overall Coyote Populations!

Lethal control techniques have ensured that only the most resilient coyotes survive, resulting in the creation of a "super coyote.' Non-lethal predator controls appear to be cheaper and more efficient in the long term.

Non-lethal predator control methods have proven, in California, to
effectively and humanely ward off predators without disrupting ecosystems. Successful methods include the use of guard dogs, mixing sheep with cattle, frightening devices, fencing, penning during lambing and calving , and the removal of carcasses from birthing areas. Using two or more of these techniques together have dramatically reduced the need for lethal predator control in the state of California.

These non-lethal methods allow wild animals to maintain their important roles in the ecosystem. Since coyotes eat mostly rodents, not sheep, some local farmers say that leaving the coyotes alone helps reduce rodent problems on their land. As well, coyotes control the deer population.
The California Statistics Service also found that for cattle and calf deaths, coyotes caused 1.6% of all deaths and those predators overall only caused 2.7% of cattle and calf deaths. Other causes of death were far greater: digestive problems, respiratory problems, unknown causes, birthing, weather, poison and theft.

While the percentage of damage actually caused to livestock was relatively low, the cost of lethal wildlife control was high. When state and local contributions were added, coyotes killed at an average cost easily exceeding $100 per animal. Costs sometimes exceeded $2,000 per animal. It was reported that in every western state, the cost of Wildlife Service's livestock protection work exceeded reported livestock losses.

Inhumane trapping and killing is NOT an effective means of controlling wildlife!

Only deterrence is effective and proper fencing has proven to be 100% effective- it's also cheaper and safer, since coyotes primarily come out at night.

Here is some information on coyotes and ways to deter them.

Chickens, rabbits and other small animals often kept outdoors should be kept in well-protected areas and in sturdy cages at night. Cages made of chicken wire will not keep desperate coyotes or other predators from entering. Stronger gauge wiring is a necessity in protecting these small animals.

If you follow these guidelines, you will not only keep coyotes away but also other wildlife, stray dogs, feral cats and robbers.

Keep your cat or small dog indoors. You wouldn't leave a pile of money sitting out on the street. Don't leave your pet out there either in coyote territory. Coyotes are actually the least of your pet's worries. Your pet can be killed by cars, dogs, cats, kids, poison...

Accompany your small dog on a leash in a well-lighted area at night for walks. It's best to walk small dogs on a leash in the daytime.

Fence your property with tall solid fences buried under the ground with "Coyote Roller" on top, or angled with barbed wire.

Don't allow pets to roam from home, especially at night

Don't leave water bowls for pets outdoors

Don't leave garbage containers open
Don't trap them. They rarely get in a trap and it's expensive. Coyotes roam
100 miles so unless you're willing to follow across the country, it will
rarely keep that one coyote away and may cause two more coyotes to come and
fight for the new territory.

Block all entrances to the crawl space under your house so they can't den.

Don't leave pet food outside, particularly at night

Don't poison them- you will end up poisoning your cat, dog, kids besides attracting raccoons, insects and disease. It's not even effective.

Don't shoot them. They are generally only visible at night. If you try to
shoot one, you will probably shoot your neighbor or dog instead. It's also illegal to shoot a firearm in most cities, counties or near homes.