Carter the Coyote is one of UBC’s campus celebrities; however, some of us
were disappointed to see Carter still on campus in the new year because it is
not the right environment for Carter to live healthfully in!
From the Ubyssey:
“Dan Straker, coordinator of the Co-Existing with Coyotes program at the Stanley Park Ecology Society, contacted us with a few important safety tips for living around coyotes:
“1) Scare coyotes, especially if they linger in public spaces during the day — coyotes are timid animals and attacks on people are extremely rare. Scaring them is for their safety so that they retain a natural fear of people.
2) Don’t feed coyotes, and remove attractants — like dogs, coyotes will eat almost anything if it’s easily available. Research has shown that most coyote conflicts with people are a direct result of deliberate feeding.
3) Pet Safety — keep cats indoors as much as possible, and dogs on leash. Use a coyote shaker (a pop can with a few pennies) for an easy one-handed noise maker to scare coyotes.
4) Report your sightings — your reports help us to monitor the whereabouts and behaviour of coyotes in your community and are added to our interactive map. You can report online or on the phone at 604-681-9453.”