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ie: ratty s py Richi cry" ' Og ; oi a 4 Graham Paine/ Metroland A local woman is urging caution after a recent encounter with a coyote. WOMAN SEEKS TO RAISE AWARENESS FOLLOWING COYOTE ENCOUNTER DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com AGeorgetown womanis trying to raise awareness following a recent coyote encounter. Gen Johnson said she was walking her two large dogs with a friend along a sidewalk in the area just north of Eighth Line and 15 Side Road on June 8 at around 2 p.m. when some- came out of the near- by bushes ane 1 Tunged at one of her "I didn’ tev even see itcome out. It happened so fast,” said Johnson. "It thought it bit my dog's leg.’ Johi was a coyote, quickly with- , but then turned around and watched as the group left the ar “That was a little scary,” she said The getown wi an said her encounter made her think back to an- other incident, which oc- curred a week pi She said she | had been driving in the same area when she saw a woman and her dog run into traffic to get away from an animal, which she now believes was a coyote. Johnson said it turned out her dog was not injured "| didn’t even see it come out. It happened so fast.” - Gen Johnson during the June 8 incident, but she still thinks people need to know about the en- counter so they can be cau- fous in this area. Lesley Sam} ding executive ereotor a of fe organization Coyote Watch Canada, said the animal was a coyote, re pe behaviour could be ex- ed by young pups be- pan in the area. "We are right in the heart of puprearing season now. So, mom and dad are totally protective ... In coy- ote world, every coyote that s not related to them and very dog is considered an- otherpreeaton said Samp- serthey want to protect their family so they will do things like a ‘bluff charge’ and then they might watch or follow to make sure the people with the dog are leaving." She said coyotes thatare harassed by off-leash dogs can also have a more ag- gressive response during future dog encounters, even When those dogs are as said people shoul keep their dogs on- leash in this area and avoid listening to music or talk- ing on a cellphone while walking there. She said coyotes will make noises, such as yips, when they become aware, of a dog's approach and hear- ing this could allow a dog walker to give these ani- mals some space and avoid an encounter. Another option, Samp- son said, is for dog walkers to avoid the area until coy- ote pupping season is over in late Jul: It should be noted that the | relocation of a Coyote metre away is an ermitted un- der Ontario's Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act as doing so can spread dis- ease or just move a prob- Jem animal to another mu- nicipality's jurisdiction. For more information about coyotes visit https:// www.coyotewatchcana- da.com/site/home. “ H ‘SCAN THIS CODE q FOR MORE LOCAL bzoz ‘2b eunp ‘Aepsiny | SIH UOHEH- dl OUL | LL Millions of people across Ontario have received their COVID-19 vaccine. Do your part. Get your shot. Health Canada-approved vaccines are conveniently available at hospitals, doctors’ offices, pharmacies and mass vaccination sites. And every dose brings us closer to what we've missed. Book your appointment today at ontario.ca/bookvaccine or call 1-888-999-6488 for help in 300 languages. Paid for by the Government of Ontario Ontario VW