Coyotes getting more accustomed to living with humans: biologist

Michelle Semeschuk was used to coyotes howling in the night when she grew up on a southern Manitoba farm. What she didn't expect were coyotes making themselves at home in her backyard on Main Street in Steinbach. Her neighbor caught it on camera. I had come home for lunch from work and was about to let my dog outside and she, when I came to the back door to open it, all of a sudden a coyote wandered into the yard. The coyote stayed for 10 minutes. Others in Steinbach and surrounding towns are seeing coyotes in their yards midday that are refusing to leave. That has some extra concern for her dog Ellie and other pets in the city. Since I happened upon it, I don't let my dog be outside alone anymore. I make sure I'm watching her all the time because she's so little. Janine Wilmot is a human wildlife coexistence biologist with the province. She says coyotes are getting more comfortable around people as they seek food and territory across North America. As a city expands, for sure, they're moving into more premium habitat that the coyotes were occupying. So there is that sort of overlap. But also coyotes over time are becoming more accustomed to living in human-developed areas. Wilmot says don't panic if a coyote starts following you. She describes it as an escort through its territory. Keeping attractants like garbage, dog food, or birdseed out of reach should minimize interactions. Wilmot added that having so many predators around is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. But don't feed the coyote. Christopher Giroux, CBC News, Steinbach.