“The vet said it looked like our dog had been bitten about 10 times in the five to seven seconds it took me to save him,” says the frustrated dog owner
Brazen coyote attacks continue to frighten and frustrate local pet owners in Barrie. In another recent incident, a dog owner managed to save her pet's life from the jaws of a coyote just in time.
As coyotes' mating season is in full swing, they can be seen roaming the parks and outskirts of town, foraging for food and looking for a mate.
And with the current icy cold snaps, appetite and the fight for survival beyond natural limits are also increasing.
Around 5 p.m. on December 15, Julia Forster was horrified to find her small dog fighting for its life in the mouth of a coyote in her backyard near Sunnidale Park.
“Our yard is completely fenced in and there is a wire fence running along the back that belongs to the city of Barrie,” she said. “This fence borders a protected area where coyotes are common.”
Forster said multiple times she spotted coyotes in her area and scared them away by hitting the fence with a shovel to make a loud noise.
“That's why I went into the backyard with my dog Pennie, a miniature pinscher, and he was there when the attack happened,” she said.
When her dog was just out of her sight, about 30 feet away and down a small hill at the back of the property, she heard his dog “yelling.”
“I ran over the top of the hill and saw my dog in the coyote’s mouth,” Forster said.
“I charged at the coyote and screamed loudly and repeatedly, which caused the coyote to drop her, then turn around and hop back over the fence,” she added.
Fortunately, her dog was alive and only suffered superficial skin injuries and no broken bones.
“The vet said it looked like our dog had been bitten about 10 times in the five to seven seconds it took me to save her,” Forster said.
The fact that she was present during the attack concerns her because Forster said it was “pretty bold” for a coyote to jump the fence knowing she was nearby.
“The coyote could have smelled my presence. “It was frightening to see my dog in the coyote’s mouth, but I’m grateful I was able to save her,” she said.
Forster said many people in her area around Sunnidale Park are concerned about walking their dogs on the sidewalk, such as on Lillian Crescent, because they will be chased by coyotes.
“I don't know if anyone in Barrie has been attacked while walking on the sidewalk, but several people have told me that their pet was taken from their fenced backyards,” she said.
A little over a year ago, a pet owner's small dog was snatched by a coyote and taken away in Sunnidale Park. The dog was never recovered and was probably eaten.
Forster said she contacted the City of Barrie looking for solutions, but was told over the phone that the city couldn't hire a trapper and that people needed to “learn to live with wildlife.”
Forster, who said she is an environmentalist and studied environmental governance at university, agrees with living with wildlife because “they were here first.”
“However, there are ways to live harmoniously and not have to worry about my dog being attacked in my presence in my fenced yard,” she said. “What if it was a child?”
One possible solution she said came into play would be to allow residents to build a taller fence or adjust existing fences.
“The City of Barrie said I couldn’t alter the fence in any way because it was city property. “Attaching barbed wire or a similar solution to our fence that runs along the side of the property we own has been confirmed by the city to be unlawful due to the risk of injury to anyone attempting to get in over our fence climbing our backyard,” said Forster.
“This is not consistent with what the Department of Natural Resources has stated is the responsibility of municipalities,” she said, referring to a ministry website that outlines rules for municipalities that use licensed hunters or trappers want to control wildlife species within their borders.
Forster believes increasing fence height is the right way to control coyote access to backyards.
“For example, could we legally increase the height of the fence?” she asked.
Forster said the city's maximum fence height is limited to 6.5 feet, which she said a coyote could “easily” jump over.
City of Barrie spokesman Scott LaMantia said there are currently no plans to increase the fence height limit within the community.
“There are signs in Sunnidale Park and the city has a website with information about living with wildlife and coyotes, as well as tips for residents,” he said BarrieToday.
LaMantia said people are encouraged to use running bells or other sound makers to ensure they are not silent as they move through the parks' wooded area. People are also asked to stay on the trails.
“As a precaution, residents are reminded to secure trash, supervise pets and remove attractants such as bird seed and other food sources that may attract wildlife,” he added.
Tips from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry say it's best to keep your distance if you encounter a coyote, as the animal will most likely avoid you.
However, if you encounter an aggressive animal, the ministry says you should not turn your back or run away. Stay calm, stand tall, wave your hands, and make a lot of noise as you slowly move away from them.
If a coyote or other wild animal poses an imminent threat or danger to public safety, call 9-1-1.
Pets such as small dogs or cats can be considered prey for the animals and should not be left outside unattended.
Always keep your dogs on a leash.
Department tips for limiting the attraction of coyotes to your property:
- Store and maintain dumpsters properly to prevent coyotes from becoming a problem
- Keep pet food indoors
- Dispose of trash on the morning of a scheduled pickup
- Use closed compost bins instead of exposed trash piles
- Pick ripe fruits and seeds from trees and remove fallen fruits from the ground
- Protect vegetable gardens with sturdy garden fencing or place vegetable plants in a greenhouse.