Rockwood Homeowners' Association
As spring begins to bloom, and community wildlife comes out of hibernation, residents should be vigilant of native coyotes living within Rockwood Village and neighbouring communities. A sighting of two coyotes in the park area between Fieldgate and Ponytrail near the hydro field was reported to the RHA through our Facebook page in mid-March by a concerned resident walking her dog early one morning.
Although basic instinct would cause most people to run from a coyote, don’t: remain where you are. City of Mississauga Animal Services advises people to remain calm and wait until the animal leaves. If the coyote approaches you, yell, stand up straight with a tall posture, clap your hands loudly, and if available, throw an object in the direction of the animal. This will scare it away. Coyotes have been seen in the Mississauga area for over two decades. Coyotes, like many wildlife species, are very important to the natural environment as they maintain a vital role in the ecosystems food chain. Coyotes are not a severe threat to humans due to their shy nature, but are a risk for domestic pets and other wildlife.
To protect your family, pets, and property from the native animal, residents can take several precautions:
- Prevent coyotes from living under backyard decks by ensuring your deck is fully enclosed.
- Keep your backyard shed or garage secure. Coyotes will be attracted to your property when food is attainable. To deter coyotes, place garbage bags on the curb on the day of your scheduled collections. Take precaution by using lockable garbage containers and put away all barbequing equipment.
- Place bird feeders high enough that they cannot be reached by coyotes. Birds can be prey of coyotes.
Under a city By-law, feeding any Mississauga wildlife is banned. Please be guided by these simple
tasks to prevent coyotes from being attracted to highly-populated areas and avoid potential human and coyote conflict.
To report an issue with a coyote or other wildlife, call Mississauga Animal Services at 905-896-5858 or on their emergency line at 905-615-3000 . Should you see someone feeding wildlife, contact By-law enforcement by phone at: 3-1-1 or by e-mail to: [email protected].