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The Question of Culling Coyotes

The Big Picture

The question of whether or not to cull coyotes has been raised and there are four main reasons of why this is not a desirable course of action for the City of Vancouver:
  1. It is ineffective: Coyotes were once restricted to the grasslands of North America and they now roam BC to Newfoundland and from Alaska to Panama; whether we like it or not, the coyote has become an urban denizen.  Lethal methods have been tried as a method of coyote management in other areas and municipalities, but lethal control methods usually result in increases in immigration, reproduction, and the survival of remaining coyotes (Crabtree, 1997).  If coyotes are removed from a territory they are quickly replaced by those seeking new territories.  Coyotes have been shown to increase litter sizes in response to lower densities and the natural parasites that naturally control populations can be reduced by culling (Henke et al, 2002).  The most effective way to deal with problem animals has proven to be the targeting of offending individual(s).
  2. It is dangerous: Setting traps, shooting and poisoning coyotes in the urban environment is dangerous for obvious reasons.  Currently, BC Ministry of Environment Conservation Officers shoot coyotes that have proven to be aggressive in urban areas.  Trapping and poisoning in the city has not been used because of the potential danger to children and pets.
  3. It is expensive: A coyote cull would be costly because it is ineffective and would have to be repeated.  One study that aimed to remove all coyotes from an area in Texas used aerial shooting of the animals every 3 months for 2 years and only resulted in a 50% reduction in the population (Henke et al, 2002).  Even if the population is reduced, this would allow transient coyotes to establish new territories and has also shown to increase litter size for remaining pairs.  With a short time the numbers will again reach the carrying capacity for that neighbourhood and another cull would be necessary.
  4. It is unpopular: Many Vancouverites feel connected to the environment and not only tolerate urban wildlife, but also feel that it enhances their quality of life.  A survey of Greater Vancouver residents in 1997 found that a majority of respondents (90%) felt that urban wildlife enhanced their life in the Lower Mainland and they were willing to modify their lifestyle or habits to maintain or enhance wildlife activity in the city (Webber, 1997).  The BC SPCA, Wildlife Rescue Association, and Stanley Park Ecology Society are just a few examples of local organizations that work with urban wildlife issues and are opposed to the killing of any vertebrate species specifically for the purpose of predator control.

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The Question of Pets and Coyotes

Some people in the community hold a strong opinion that coyotes are unwelcome in their neighbourhood because of the danger they pose to their beloved pets; this does not, however, represent the majority of Vancouver residents.  Anyone who reports a coyote complaint to any agency in the Lower Mainland including municipal governments, animal control, the BC SPCA, police departments, etcetera is directed to the Co-existing with Coyotes phone line (604-681-WILD).  Out of the hundreds of people that call or email the program each year, very few are unsatisfied with our advice and information; most understand that their actions can influence coyote behaviour.

People are told that pets left outdoors unattended, especially at night, are at risk of being taken by coyotes and it is up to the resident's choice whether they are willing to take that chance.  Most people understand and accept the risk if they leave their pets outdoors; they are happy to receive information about how to keep their local coyotes from becoming habituated and are offered posters to be put up and brochures to be distributed in their neighborhoods to warn others of the risk and to contact the coyote hotline for more information.  In rare cases, pets are killed while they are under the supervision of their owners and these cases are reported to the BC MoE because they represent an escalation in coyote habituation behaviour.

The CwC program is supported, in part, by the BC SPCA and Vancouver Animal Control which recommend that all pets be kept indoors for their safety.  Pets are subjected to all kinds of dangers in the outdoors including disease, cars, other wildlife (such as raccoons), and antifreeze but often coyotes are blamed when a pet goes missing.  Cats that roam free live on average less than 5 years, whereas indoor cats often live to 17 or more years of age.  Research has also clearly shown that pets only constitute a very small (1-2%) amount of the urban coyote diet.  It is often one or two problem coyotes that are responsible for mortalities to pets (Gehrt, 2006).

Respected wildlife groups such as the Wildlife Rescue Association of BC, the Audubon Society, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology recommend keeping cats indoors because of the damage they do to bird populations.  These groups and many others across the continent maintain campaigns to try and educate the public about the risks to wildlife from outdoor cats.  It is believed that cats in the US may kill up to one billion birds annually but they also spread disease, act as competition for native predators, and contribute to declines in some species at risk.

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The Issue of Bold and Aggressive Coyotes

Conflicts between coyotes and people or pets arise when they lose their natural fear of humans (become habituated) and/or they become accustomed to eating human food.  The messaging delivered to the public by CWC is to prevent conflicts by reducing human-caused food sources and by harassing these animals so that they regain their fear of people.  The most reliable information available shows that negative coyote behaviours stem from their direct or sometimes indirect interactions with humans (especially feeding) (Gehrt, 2006).

If a coyote is reported to have aggressive or otherwise menacing behaviour, indicating a case of severe habituation, the public is instructed through our signage, brochures, website and hotline to contact the Ministry of Environment.  CwC hotline staff will also contact MoE Conservation Officers directly if a coyote seems to be dangerous, such as if it has followed someone, if a supervised pet has been taken, or if there are reports of someone deliberately feeding coyotes.

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The Issue of Baker and Timm's 1998 Seven Step Scale

The seven step scale for escalating coyote behaviour has been used by the CwC program as a way to assess the severity of hotline/email complaints.  We give advice and information to the caller based on the level of habituation the coyote displays.  We respond to every phone call and email, seven days per week and record the details of every call.  If someone calls to report seeing a coyote in a neighborhood at night (step 1), we simply call back and have a quick chat to thank them for the information and ask if they have any questions or concerns about coyotes in their neighborhood.  If they call about coyotes seen during the day, or if the coyotes have been approaching people or taking pets (Steps 2-4, and 6) we give more instruction about how to remove attractants, how to harass or haze the coyotes, we offer to send them posters and brochures and we sometimes call nearby elementary schools to see if they want to schedule a Coyote 101 awareness-and-safety program.  If a coyote takes a pet from a leash, is chasing people or otherwise acting aggressively, we give out the same information and we also call or send a message to the MoE Conservation Officers to let them know that negative interactions have escalated in that area.  Residents are always instructed (through print media and in person) that they can contact the BC MoE if they want to make a further report, but that is rarely the case; most people leave the conversation feeling empowered to take action and are usually very grateful for the information.

There is a predictable sequence of observed changes in coyote behavior that indicates an increasing risk to human safety (Sec, Timm et al. 2004).  We define these changes, in order of their usual pattern of occurrence, as follows:
  1. An increase in observing coyotes on streets and in yards at night
  2. An increase in coyotes approaching adults and/or taking pets at night
  3. Early morning and late afternoon daylight observance of coyotes on streets and in parks and yards
  4. Daylight observance of coyotes chasing or taking pets
  5. Coyotes attacking and taking pets on leash or in close proximity to their owners; coyotes chasing joggers, bicyclists, and other adults
  6. Coyotes seen in and around children's play areas, school grounds, and parks in mid-day
  7. Coyotes acting aggressively toward adults during mid-day...

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Background to the Co-existing with Coyotes Program

The Co-existing with Coyotes (CwC) program was adopted by the City of Vancouver in 2001.  The program was created in response to a growing presence of coyotes in the City and the need for a long term approach to reducing conflict between coyotes, people, and pets.

Coyotes first arrived in Vancouver in the 1980's and began stirring up conflict in the city as they became comfortable in urban spaces, attacked pets and even bit some children.  When citizens became concerned for the safety of their children and pets, it became clear that the Provincial government had limited resources and techniques to deal with coyote problems in the city.  Phone calls from the public were sent to agencies that were unable to provide adequate and consistent information such as the SPCA and animal control that deal mainly with domestic animals.  Coyote behaviour in Vancouver was first interpreted to the public through media reports in a response to specific incidents and complaints.  However, it was important to understand the ecology of coyotes to place conflicts in context and to determine the most appropriate management strategy.

In 1997 the foundational work on urban coyotes in the GVRD conducted by UBC Masters student Kristine Lampa (formerly Webber) found that a majority of respondents (90%) felt that urban wildlife enhanced their life in the Lower Mainland and they were willing to modify their lifestyle or habits to maintain or enhance wildlife activity in the city (Webber, 1997).  Her research into the biology of local coyotes also found that rodents made up a majority of their diet although cat and dog hair was found in some scats.  After a task force was created involving all interested parties (SPCA, Animal Control, City wildlife staff, Wildlife Rescue Association, etc.) the Co-existing with Coyotes program was initiated.  The program's mission is to "Promote public access to information and resources to reduce conflict between coyotes and people."  This is done by educating the public about coyotes and how to coexist with them in the city, as well as by dealing with specific coyote problems when they occur.  We provide information through the hotline, educational programming, signage, and the SPES Web site to help to improve the public's awareness and understanding of coyotes in the urban environment and to increase safety for people and pets.

The messaging relayed to the public by CwC staff is that coyote conflicts arise when they become habituated to human food and contact.  To deal with the problem of coyotes being seen during the day, predating pets, or other concerns, the most effective long-term solution is to harass these animals so that they regain their fear of people.  If a coyote is reported to exhibit aggressive or otherwise menacing behaviour, the public is immediately instructed to contact the Ministry of Environment hotline so that Conservation Officers are aware of the situation.  CwC staff also contact COs directly if the problem is seen to potentially become dangerous, such as if a coyote has followed someone, if a supervised pet has been taken, or if there are reports of someone deliberately feeding coyotes.

The main components of the program are an information phone line, community workshops, school presentations, public education through printed media and a Web site in collaboration with government agencies to deal with problem animals.  The program is managed with a two pronged approach:
  1. Short term emergency response: program staff monitor and respond to complaints through the coyote phone line (604-681-WILD).  They communicate with Ministry of Environment Conservation Officers regarding cases of potentially "dangerous" coyotes, and CO's make decisions about and undertake lethal control if they deem it is necessary.
  2. Long term solution: through public education and outreach, collaboration with partner organizations, and No-feeding and Untidy Premises Bylaws.

This City of Vancouver's Co-existing with Coyotes program has become recognized across North America as a model for urban coyote management through an appropriate balance of education and action.  Every year similar programs are adopted by municipalities across Canada and the US when short term, lethal solutions have failed.  CwC staff have regularly been invited to urban coyote symposiums in the US and wildlife officers from Australia even made a trip to see SPES' program in action.

The following outline some of the results of the program:
Students Participating in
Coyote 101		 Phone Calls to Hotline On-site Response
2002-2003 10,000 600 -
2003-2004 32,000 2100 -
2004-2005 8,000 800 17
2005-2006 12,500 900 32
2006-2007 6,541 465 15
2007-2008 9,420 754 26
2008-2009 8,472 659 18

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The latest in Urban Coyote Research (Gerht, 2006)

The latest, and most reliable research on urban coyotes, conducted in Chicago Illinois, provides a valuable scientific foundation for the program.  The rigorous and ongoing work conducted through the Ohio State University has shown that many of the original premises of the program still hold true, and that our program is sound in its messaging and the information we provide.  A summary of the research by Gerht (2006) has concluded that:

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Research on Greater Vancouver Coyotes (Webber, 1997)

A research survey conducted in 1997 (Webber) in the greater Vancouver area studied public perceptions of urban wildlife and coyotes, as well as a small scale project on urban coyote biology.  Webber found that although opinions were divided on the issue of urban coyotes, most people felt that co-existence with urban wildlife, including coyotes, was desirable and that there was a real need for consistent and accurate information.  The following are some of the specific results from her work:

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References

Crabtree, R.L. 1997. (Letter). Yellowstone Ecosystem Studies. Biology Department Montana State University.
 
Gehrt, S. T. 2006. Urban Coyote Ecology and Management: The Cook County, Illinois, Coyote Project. Ohio State University Extension.
 
Henke, S.E., D.B. Pence, and F.C. Bryant. 2002. Effect of short-term coyote removal on populations of Coyote Helminths. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 38(1), 2002, pp. 54-67.
 
Webber, K. 1993. Urban coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823) in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia: Public Perceptions and Education. Thesis for Masters of Science in Department of Animal Studies, UBC.

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