Coyotes in Nova Scotia
Posted Under: News and Information
Coyotes have been sited in different neighbourhoods in Bedford.
Coyotes have been spotted in neighbourhoods throughout Bedford.
In mid-January students at Eaglewood Drive School were sent home with a newsletter telling parents to take precautions as coyotes had been spotted on the school property.
Also, coyotes have been spotted in the neighbourhoods surrounding Bedford South School.
Due to the large numbers of trees and habitats being destroyed in the area, this is not surprising.
As a result of these sitings the Bedford Beacon decided to look up some facts on coyotes in Nova Scotia.
The Government of Nova Scotia website explains that coyotes found in Nova Scotia are known as Eastern Coyotes. They are larger than the Western Coyotes because of interbreeding with wolves.
“Some individuals encountered here may be as much as twice the average size of coyotes found in southwestern North America.”
Male coyotes weigh on average about 34 lbs; females weigh about 27lbs.
The coyotes spread from west to east through Ontario, Quebec, New York and New Brunswick.
“They eventually moved from mainland Nova Scotia to Cape Breton crossing the ice-covered Canso Strait.”
“Coyotes are wild and generally avoid people. However, they should be treated as potentially dangerous. Do not approach a coyote.”
How can people reduce coyote interactions?
“Make sure garbage is not left laying around, remove pet food, compost, or garbage from outside your doorstep at night. Do not feed wild animals. Do not leave pets unattended or unprotected outdoors.”
A coyote’s diet consists of an assortment of different foods: deer, mice, squirrels, snowshoe hare, and fruit (like apples, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries).
“Snow and the lack of leaf cover makes coyotes more visible. Heavy snow may encourage travel on or near roads. Recently publicity about coyotes has also heightened public awareness and the likelihood to report sightings.”
Reader Comments
Greetings: I would like to add a few comments concerning the Eastern Coyote…I came across Bedford Beacon.com, quite by accident…,and enjoyed same…The male Eastern coyote can reach a weight of 50lbs… (22.7 Kg.)…can run 40 M.P/hr….leap up to 14 feet….They appear to have lost their fear of humans…(If that actually existed…In the first place) At the time of this writing,…a young lady…has been killed in Cape Breton…and just the other day another lady was attacked, and bitten in mainland Nova Scotia…having been bitten in the upper thigh area…Now…when is the last time we have heard of a bear attack…or any attack on a human from a wild animinal in Nova Scoia?. The attacks from the Eastern Coyote is for one reason, and one reason only…”To eat”, sorry but I feel this to be the only reason…Most wild animals will attack to defend a food supply,…and to protect their young…and this we can understand…,and take steps to avoid..but these two attacks…”We apparently were the food supply…don’t forget that…”…And don’t be taken in by the false perseption, that these animals…are only in the woodlands…they could be, and often are in our own back yards…and I am not trying to instill fear, or trying to stop you from enjoying our walking trails, and our woodlands There are many suggestions / tips…on how to protect ourselves…and they are for the most part…sound…I would like to offer a couple of mine…back away from a confrontation, never run….walk with a long hard wood walking stick…and after checking with your local law-enforcement agency…consider a canister of bear spray for your back-pack…See the O/C (Officer in charge)…and ask for written authorisation,…you may or may not get it…,you will get several different answers I suspect, from several different Constables…so go to the top…Remember that bear spray (Like many things) has been, and will continue to be used for illegal purposes, not only for it’s orginal intended purpose.I see that the Minister of Natural Resources is considering a “bounty” on coyotes, sounds great, but will not work…When coyote populations decrease,…the size of the litter will increase…litters have been known to increase from 2 pups..to 10 or more to off set a decreasing population….They are here, and they are here to stay, those are the facts…how to better protect ourselves is the question…bear spray, a good solid hardwood walking stick,…keeping any possible threats on your mind…when setting to enjoy your lunch,…try to locate an open area, coyotes will stay hidden,untill the last possible moment, and seldom will venture into an open area,untill dark…Be safe,…be carefull….Thanks for your time….John