Disturbing discovery: Four dead coyotes found dumped in ditch

Coyotes found dead in Springwater A disturbing discovery in Springwater Township after four dead coyotes were dumped. CTV Barrie's Rob Cooper explains.

Several dead coyotes were found dumped in a ditch in Springwater Township.

Carole Charest made the discovery while out for a run near Snow Valley Ski Resort on Monday night. The smell coming from the four corpses was overwhelming.

“I just came across a foul smell on the side of the road and decided to investigate and found four dead coyotes,” she says.  “Pretty disgusted and pretty disappointed that somebody would actually do that; leave them on the side of the road.”

Springwater Township crews removed the animals on Tuesday. The coyotes will be buried somewhere on township property.

Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry confirms it is investigating after receiving a complaint about the dead animals.

However, it says it is impossible to determine even by looking at the pictures CTV News sent them if any laws were broken in the killing of the coyotes.

People are allowed to hunt coyotes most of the year if they have a small game licence. People are also permitted to kill coyotes if they feel their safety is in jeopardy or if the animals threaten their property.

However, the MNRF says people cannot just dump the dead animals on the side of the road. The township says if you find a dead animal on your property, you need to bury them.

The MNRF says you can also dispose of them somewhere off the beaten path.