In a recent article in the Standard-Freeholder, in response to complaints about coyote sightings, Cornwall staff shockingly recommended the hiring of a trapper to kill approximately 5 coyotes living in this area. The city intends on asking for permission from the Ontario government (Ministry of Natural Resources) to take lethal action. If approval is given, the city will use a trapper already on contract to kill the coyotes.
This type of reckless reactive behavior is not only a death sentence for coyotes, it brings cruel and dangerous traps closer than ever to residents and their pets. Leg-hold, Conibear and snare traps are much more dangerous to local pets and children than coyotes!
Founder and coyote expert from Coyote Watch Canada, Lesley Sampson says, “Any such violent moves towards granting this third party access to trapping is setting a very dangerous precedent for our coyotes and other wildlife. Sanctuary, compassion and tolerance will be replaced by ignorance and more deaths because municipalities are not enforcing their own by-laws and not conducting investigations by impartial and experienced coyote experts to identify and mitigate coyote attractants.”
In short, if Cornwall wants to crack down on coyotes, it first needs to crack down on local citizens who are intentionally or non-intentionally feeding these animals.
Furthermore, this past summer The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals helped Cornwall end 25 years of beaver trapping by installing flow devices in Guindon Park. We are truly disappointed that after such a positive experience with the city of Cornwall, that council would turn around and approve the use of trapping for another fur-bearing animal. Has the city not learned anything from all the work we did to co-exist with the beavers?
Non-lethal alternatives work
Rather than supporting the killing of coyotes, we encourage Cornwall to adopt an education program for residents modelled after other cities who peacefully co-exist with urban coyotes including Vancouver.
We also encourage local residents to use hazing techniques. This includes activities that humanely make coyotes more afraid of people, recharging their natural fear. (ie. bang pots and pans, throw balls, spray coyotes with a garden hose, wave arms and act aggressively.) Coyote hazing changes coyote behaviour.
Please ask the Minister of Natural Resources to NOT approve Cornwall’s request to kill the coyotes and please tell Cornwall to not trap and kill coyotes and to use non-lethal alternatives instead.
Ministry of Natural Resources
Honourable Michael Gravelle
Minister.mnr@ontario.ca
City Councillors of Cornwall
mayor@cornwall.ca
dcarr@cornwall.ca
bclement@cornwall.ca
mdupelle@cornwall.ca
sgardiner@cornwall.ca
gggrant@cornwall.ca
emacdonald@cornwall.ca
dmurphy@cornwall.ca
arivette@cornwall.ca
gsamson@cornwall.ca
dthibault@cornwall.ca
Also, please CC your letter to:
Acting Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Cornwall.
Stephen Alexander
salexander@cornwall.ca
