The City of Montreal released its management plan in dealing with urban coyotes.
Their plans highlight coexisting with urban coyotes, but they will also capture and euthanize coyotes who are aggressive or bite people.
"We need people acting with us, the city, so we can coexist in Montreal with coyotes, as we did decades ago," said Émilie Thuillier, Ahuntsic-Cartierville borough mayor.
Thuillier and biologists who presented the city's plans stated coyotes should not be treated kindly, as the city needs to re-instill a coyote's natural fear of humans.
When residents stop feeding coyotes or leaving out garbage that coyotes can scavenge food from, they will remain scared of humans, Thuillier said.
Interactions between humans and coyotes should not be positive, said Frederick Bussières, a biologist with the city of Montreal. “The animal should be scared."
City of #montreal plans to deploy "negative conditioning" crews who will use noisemakers and other means to scare urban coyotes and help in making them regain their natural fear of humans. Coyotes who are aggressive or bite humans will still be captured and killed. @CJAD800 pic.twitter.com/OzDoCHDPu9
— Saif Kaisar (@StaySaif) December 10, 2018
The city advised Montrealers who meet a coyote to stand their ground, wave their arms, and make loud noises to try and scare the animal. People should never turn away from the coyote, or run.
Measures will be taken by Montreal officials to re-double on efforts to enforce bylaws such as prohibiting the feeding of wild animals, ensuring residents dispose of garbage properly, and for dogs to be leashed in public. They said this can help discourage coyotes from being aggressive.
According to the city, 19 people have been bitten by coyotes in Montreal since June 2017.
If residents spot a coyote they are encouraged to call 438-872-COYO (2696).