Rural York Region residents warned about coyote activity

Undated image of a coyote. (Source: Dom Sch-veg-man/Pexels)

Residents in the Nobleton area of King Township are being advised about coyote activity in their community after recently reported encounters between locals and pets.

The Township of King released a notice on Friday stating that they are ‘aware’ of the recent coyote encounters and that Vaughan Animal Services (VAS) is gathering information to put together a response plan.

“We understand these encounters can be unsettling, and we want to assure residents that community safety is our top priority. We thank everyone for their continued vigilance and cooperation,” stated the township in their notice.

Nobleton residents are encouraged to report coyote sightings to VAS and to call 911 in the event of an emergency.

The township and VAS are also partnering to educate residents and help reduce the risk of negative interactions with coyotes. Some reminders they list include:

• Never feeding or approaching a coyote or other wild animals, as it could lead them to associating humans with food.
• Supervising pets; keeping dogs on leashes and cats indoors.
• Removing bird feeders or other items that attract small mammals that could in turn attract predators such as coyotes.
• Keeping barbecues clean, properly disposing pet waste and placing waste at the curb only on the morning of collection days.

For those who encounter a coyote, the township and VAS recommend:

• Immediately picking up small children and pets.
• Shouting, waving arms in the air or snapping plastic bags to appear larger and more threatening.
• Backing away slowly while remaining calm.
• Never running or facing away from a coyote.