Souris, PEI -
A recent coyote altercation with a dog along the Confederation Trail (Prince Edward Island) shouldn't keep the public from enjoying a healthy outdoor walk.
However, both wildlife biologist Randy Dibblee and trapper Carl Balsor say there's a perfectly good reason why the animals are more visible and prevalent these days.
Kenny Chiasson was walking his dog recently along the Confederation Trail near Rollo Bay. The unleashed pet ran ahead and was attacked at the front legs by a coyote that bolted from the woods. A second coyote was about to join the fray when Chiasson intervened by yelling and waving a branch.
The coyotes fled and the dog was fine.
But the altercation is the direct result of a public disdain for hunting and trapping.
"If a coyote comes towards you don't run,'' says Balsor, president of the PEI Trappers Association.
"Make big and yell and they'll go away. However the reason they are even coming so close is because people feed them and they are no longer afraid."
Dibblee, the province's wildlife man, agrees, and says the sprawl of urban population across North America into traditional wildlife regions with medium to large size predators do not make good neighbours.
"Coyotes are protected in most regions and that's why there's up to 80 incidents of attacks on the West Coast,'' he said. "They get used to people giving them handouts."
A young woman from Ontario was recently killed by coyotes in the Cape Breton Highlands and Dibblee said the ban on hunting or trapping has only allowed the population to flourish.
"We don't sing the praises of hunting or trapping and such activities always get bad press," he said.
PEI allows hunting and trapping of coyotes for some periods of the year and about 400 pelts are collected.
"Trapping is a very important management tool,'' he said.
"But don't stop walking, just put your dog on the leash and if you feel you need a walking stick, take one."
One of the attacking coyotes has since been trapped.
Balsor has been trapping for decades and has never been attacked or threatened by a coyote.
"People are afraid because of the Cape Breton incident but don't run if you see one. Make noise and they'll leave."
