Coyotes
Calgary's natural and wild spaces are part of what makes our community unique. Many of us appreciate the abundance of places within the city limits where we can enjoy nature and for a little while, remove ourselves from the bustle of the city.
Enjoying those special places brings also a responsibility—we must realize we share these spaces with other creatures, some of whom can be dangerous on occasion.
Coyotes are one such species. They exist within the City of Calgary and residents need to be aware of them and how best to deal with them should they be encountered. Because of several factors, coyotes are not necessarily staying in traditional natural areas—they have been encountered in many urban areas within the city. This may be happening because they are finding food sources within the city and are not discouraged from utilizing those sources.
Although coyotes mainly feed on small mammals such as mice and rats, they will attack domestic pets. Coyotes are generally no threat to people but should be treated with respect and never approached or fed. People with small children should be especially careful with their children around animals.
While there have been reports of coyotes attacking people, these attacks are very rare and not often serious.
Coyotes are part of our urban wildlife and should be enjoyed, but from a distance.