Coyote warning issuedWith the chance of coyotes coming closer to humans at this time of year as theyre looking for food or breeding, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) reminds area residents to keep their pets on a leash when theyre out walking them.The MNR suggests residents take several steps to ensure coyotes arent attracted to their property and to keep themselves and their pets OAKVILLE BEAVER FILE PHOTOsafe.Coyote in rural Oakville Dont approach or feed coyotes. Feeding them makes the animals less fearful of humans exposed piles. Coyotes are attracted to dog andand habituates them to food provided by cat waste, as well as products containing meat,humans.milk and eggs. Aggressive behaviour towards people is ? Pick ripe fruit from fruit trees and removeunusual for coyotes, but people should always fallen fruit from the ground and keep bird feed-exercise caution around wildlife. Never attempt ers from overflowing.to tame a coyote.? Fence your yard. Clear away bushes and Do not turn your back on or run from a dense weeds near your home, where coyotescoyote. Back away from the coyote while remain-may find cover. Close off crawl spaces undering calm. Use whistles and personal alarm porches, decks and sheds.devices to frighten an approaching or threaten-? Keep pets inside at night. Keep all pets oning animal.leashes or confined to a yard. Keep cats indoors. Properly store and maintain garbage con-Always walk your dog on a leash.tainers to prevent coyotes from becoming a ? Spay and neuter your dogs as coyotes areproblem. Place trash bins inside an enclosed attracted and can mate with dogs.structure to discourage the presence of small ? Farmers should consider guard animalsrodents, which are a food source for coyotes. such as donkeys, llamas and dogs to protectPut garbage at curbside the morning of the livestock from coyotes.scheduled pickup, rather than the night For more information, visit http://www.before.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/ Use enclosed composting bins rather than FW/2ColumnSubPage/271326.html.Brampton man charged following Oakville investigationA 19-year-old Brampton man is facing and Peel Regional Police.charges related to the possession of child Mathew St. Amant, 19, of Brampton haspornography following an investigation by been charged with two counts of possess-the Halton Regional Police Service Internet ing child pornography and one count of Child Exploitation Unit, police said late making child pornography available.last week.Halton police are continuing to investi-Police said the investigation started in gate child exploitation incidents and any-Oakville, but later led investigators to one with relevant information is asked toBrampton.contact the Child Abuse and Sexual AssaultThe investigation was a joint effort also Unit at 905-465-8970 or Crime Stoppers atinvolving the Ontario Provincial Police 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).www.insideHALTON.com OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, March 2, 2011 10