Residents of a Canadian town have seen a significant uptick in encounters with local predators, which has city leaders re-evaluating their options.
What’s happening?
According to CKOM , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, has seen a significant uptick in reported coyote sightings around the city. Saskatoon’s Urban Biological Services team received 214 calls about coyote sightings in 2024, an increase from the 78 calls it received about them in 2023, and an increase from the 16 it got in 2022.
As a result, the Saskatoon City Council is considering changing its ordinances about feeding wildlife, along with other preventative actions.
Why are coyote sightings important?
Coyotes are a predatory and scavenging species that can live alongside humans in urban and suburban environments, as well as in the wilderness, allowing them to increase their numbers without necessarily coming into conflict with humans.
However, feeding coyotes, much like feeding any form of wildlife, is a dangerous pastime for people to undertake. When a species like coyotes is fed by people, the animals become less fearful and can quickly become more aggressive, especially if the source of food becomes less consistent or goes away…