Ottawa Coyote Calls
Lead:
Open Data Ottawa shows that there has been a decline in reported coyote sightings in the Ottawa area. However sources say that the public is simply not reporting sightings but instead taking matters into their own hands and hiring trappers, as the coyote population is in fact quite stable.
Visualizations:
Sources:
Heather Badenoch – Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary Volunteer & Board Member,and Village PR Owner Phone: 613-859-8232
Badenoch informed me that the sanctuary deals with injured and orphaned wild animals, works to prevent animal from being injured (or causing injury) and gets many calls about wildlife in urban areas. She also explained that most of the complaints about wild animals are caused because people have left food and garbage out.
Robin Horwath –General Manager of the Ontario Fur Ministry Federation
Phone: 705-254-3338
Horwath explained that the coyote population in the Ottawa area has stabilized, and even increased in some areas over the last few years, but the number of nuisance calls has increased.
He went on to explain that all coyote trappers are licensed and once captured are relocated or dispatched (euthanized).
Ontario Fur Ministry Federation official website:
http://www.furmanagers.com/#!licence/c6j7
The website explains what happens when a when the Ministry of Natural Resources receives a complaint of predation, and assures the public that it assesses the situation carefully and begins a control program.
The site states that they only employ local fully licensed trappers, who primarily use traps, and encourages people to make the effort to help avoid such issues to arise in the first place (ie. tidying up food/garbage and keeping pets and domestic animals inside).
Todd Lane –Press Secretary, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
Email: todd.lane@ontario.ca Phone: 416-314-1100
Lane informed me that there has been a slight change in the coyote population in the Ottawa area. “The coyote trend in Kemptville district, which includes the City of Ottawa, indicated numbers peaked in 2009. The index last fall was down about 27 per cent from that peak.”
Constable Lori Fahey
Email: faheyl@ottawapolice.ca Phone: 613-236-1222 x 2005
Fahey informed me that while she receives emails concerning coyote sightings, she refers people to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the Ottawa police do not respond to calls about coyotes unless there are “exigent circumstances which would necessitate [their] attention”.
She also encourages people to avoid feeding wildlife “as it could decrease their natural fear of humans and lead to more conflicts.”
City Councilor Allan Hubley– Kanata South Ward 23
http://councillorallanhubley.ca/?page_id=4475
Hubley’s urges residents to give a detailed report of coyote sightings to three different departments: the ward’s local police office, the Ministry of Natural Resource and Forestry and finally to contact the city.
Dianne Wittner –Wildlife biologist & founder of the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation
Fall 2010 Newsletter, Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre: http://wildlifeinfo.ca/newsletters/fall10.pdf
Wittner expands on the habits homeowners need to take on to avoid attracting coyotes to their home. She also stresses the importance of protecting the coyote population and their role in the food chain.
Greenbelt Official Website: http://www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places-to-visit/greenbelt/visitor-information
The Greenbelt “surrounds Ottawa and extends from Shirley’s Bay in the west to Green’s Creek in the east”.
Data Source:
http://data.ottawa.ca/en/dataset/2014-311-monthly-service-request-submissions
http://data.ottawa.ca/en/dataset/311-monthly-service-request-submissions
http://data.ottawa.ca/en/dataset/311-service-request-volumes
http://data.ottawa.ca/en/dataset/311-service-request-volumes