A recent report of coyotes near Slave Lake’s airport and dump station has prompted a reminder for residents to keep an eye on their pets and give wild animals plenty of space.

“Few coyotes running around by the airport and dump station keep your animals inside,” community member Brianna Olsen wrote in a recent Facebook post.

While sightings of coyotes in and around town can be unsettling, the animals are a natural part of the boreal landscape surrounding Slave Lake. Alberta’s government says coyotes are highly adaptable and have increasingly learned to make use of urban and residential areas, where they can find food, shelter and travel corridors.

For residents, that means seeing a coyote does not necessarily indicate that an animal is sick or aggressive. Coyotes normally avoid people, and their natural diet consists largely of rabbits, mice, squirrels and other small animals. They can also play a useful role in controlling rodent populations.
The problem can arise when coyotes become accustomed to finding food around people.

According to Alberta Fish and Wildlife, garbage, pet food, fallen fruit, birdseed and other food sources can attract the small mammals that coyotes prey upon, as well as coyotes themselves. Dog feces can also act as an attractant.

That makes what happens in a backyard important.

Residents can reduce the chances of attracting coyotes by keeping garbage secured, bringing pet food indoors, cleaning up fallen fruit and keeping bird-feeding areas clean. Cats should be kept indoors, while dogs should not be left outside unattended.


Motion-activated lights can also discourage wildlife from lingering around a property, while gaps underneath decks, sheds and other structures should be closed off so they cannot be used as shelter.
Keeping properties clean is particularly important because coyotes are opportunistic feeders. Alberta says human food can account for a significant portion of the diet of urban coyotes, with the animals generally taking advantage of these sources at night and in areas where they can remain concealed.

What to do if you encounter one?

The advice is somewhat different from what people might instinctively do when confronted by a wild animal. Do not run.

If a coyote is nearby, Alberta recommends making yourself appear as large as possible, raising your arms and making loud noises in a deep voice. People can also throw rocks, sticks or other objects toward the animal to make the encounter unpleasant for it.

Maintain eye contact and slowly back away toward a building or other area with people if the animal continues approaching.

The objective is not to attack the animal, but to make it clear that being around people is not a comfortable experience.

That approach is known as aversive conditioning, or hazing, and is increasingly used in wildlife management because simply removing individual coyotes does not necessarily solve the underlying problem. Other coyotes can move into the same area if food and shelter remain available.
Residents should also resist the temptation to approach a coyote for a photograph or to see how close they can get.

Alberta advises people never to approach, feed, chase, surround or follow wildlife. This is particularly important around animals with young, which can become protective.

The same general rule applies to children: if a coyote is spotted, children should never approach it or run away from it. They should make themselves appear large, make noise and move toward safety.
Dogs can also change the situation.

Coyotes can perceive dogs as competitors or threats, and Alberta notes that coyotes can be particularly territorial toward dogs at certain times of the year. Keeping dogs leashed when walking and avoiding allowing them to roam unsupervised is one of the simplest ways to reduce the risk.
A small dog left alone in a backyard can also be vulnerable to a coyote.

Coyotes aren’t the only wildlife residents may see

Coyotes are only one of the wild species capable of turning up in a community surrounded by boreal forest.

Residents of Slave Lake and other northern Alberta communities can encounter animals ranging from foxes, deer and moose to porcupines, beavers and smaller mammals. Larger predators, including black bears and occasionally wolves, can also occur in the broader region.

The reasons wildlife enters populated areas vary.

Some animals are simply passing through. Others may be following natural travel routes, searching for food or looking for shelter. Alberta notes that many communities are surrounded by natural areas and that features such as river valleys can act as travel corridors for coyotes and other wildlife.

Urban and rural development can also put people and wildlife closer together than they once were.
That does not mean every animal seen in town represents a danger. In many cases, the safest response is simply to give the animal an opportunity to leave.

Moose, for example, are normally not aggressive but can become dangerous when stressed, during the fall rut or when a cow is protecting a calf. Alberta advises residents to keep their distance from moose even when the animals appear calm.

Foxes are similarly adaptable and can appear in residential areas. They are generally wary of people but can pose a risk to cats and small dogs.

The basic rule is the same across species: observe from a distance, do not feed wildlife and give the animal a clear route away from people.

When should residents report a coyote?

Not every coyote sighting requires government intervention.

A coyote travelling through town, hunting a rabbit or moving away when it sees people may simply be behaving normally.

More concerning behaviour includes an animal that repeatedly approaches people, refuses to retreat, follows people or pets, appears unusually fearless, or makes physical contact with a person or pet.

Alberta advises residents to report aggressive coyote encounters, including situations in which a coyote nips or bites a person.

For Slave Lake and the surrounding area, the local Fish and Wildlife office can be reached at 780-849-7123 during regular business hours. Dangerous wildlife encounters and other serious wildlife matters can also be reported through Alberta’s 24-hour Report A Poacher line at 1-800-642-3800.
In an immediate emergency, residents should call 911.

For most encounters, however, the best response is prevention.

Keeping garbage and other attractants secured, keeping pets under control and refusing to feed wildlife can make residential areas considerably less attractive to animals looking for an easy meal.
For a town like Slave Lake, where homes sit alongside the boreal landscape, occasional wildlife encounters are part of the territory.

The goal is not necessarily to keep every wild animal out.

It is to make sure wildlife remains wild — and that people and pets give it enough space to stay that way.

William Hetherington
Lakeside Leader