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NOW WE WANT TO TRAIN YOU! www.drivewiseoakville.com 905.845.7200 get registered. get trained. get driving. 220 Randall Street Downtown Oakville Phone:905.842.2100 www.peterwatsoninvestments.com Helping You Make Smart Decisions About Your Money Peter Watson MBA,CFP,R.F.P.,CIM,FCSI Thank you for your support Gold Award Winner Best Financial Planner 3 W ednesday, Septem ber 7, 2011 O A K V ILLE B EA V ER w w w .in sid eH A LTO N .co m By Nathan Howes OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF The Town of Oakville is holding a Living with Coyotes seminar on Thursday, Sept. 15 to address public concerns about the wildlife in neigh- bourhoods. Guest speaker at the seminar is John Pisapio, coyote expert and wild- life biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources. The panel will also include North Oakville Today reporter Michael Howie, who has written numerous articles on coyotes as the issue has been particularly problematic in north Oakville neighbourhoods. The seminar will provide residents with facts about coyotes and offer steps to ensure a peaceful coexistence with local wildlife. The evening will conclude with a question-and-answer session with experts, including representatives from the Oakville-Milton Humane Society. The Living with Coyotes seminar will take place from 6:308:30 p.m. at the Operating Engineers Banquet Hall at 2245 Speers Rd. Over the summer, numerous coy- ote sightings have occurred in Oakville urban areas. Mylene Farion snapped a photo of a coyote in a parkette in the Odessa and Oxford Street area on the morning of Aug. 30. Farion said the animal was not aggressive and spotted it as she was watering her garden nearby. It was really thin and it came out because it was garbage night and there was still garbage in the morning, and I think it was trying to get through some of the garbage, said Farion. But as soon as you go a little bit towards it, its just scared of people and it just went back into the parkette. Farion said the coyote seemed to have a wound near its back. The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) advises people not to feed or approach coyotes if they encounter one. Coyote Safety Tips Source: Ministry of Natural Resources Do not approach or feed coyotes Coyotes are usually wary of humans and avoid people whenever possible. However, they are wild ani- mals and should not be approached. If you encounter a coyote Never attempt to tame a coy- ote. Do not turn your back on or run from a coyote. Back away from the coyote while remaining calm. Use whistles and personal alarm devices to frighten an approaching or threatening animal. Secure garbage and minimize attractants on your property Properly store and maintain gar- bage containers to help prevent coyotes from becoming a problem. Place trash bins inside an enclosed structure to discourage the presence of small rodents, which are an important food source for coyotes. Put garbage at curbside the morn- ing of the scheduled pickup, rather than the night before. Use enclosed composting bins rather than exposed piles. Coyotes are attracted to dog and cat waste as well as products containing meat, milk and eggs. Use deterrents and fences to keep coyotes away from your home and gardens Use motion-sensitive lighting and/or motion-activated sprinkler sys- tems to make your property less attrac- tive to coyotes and other nocturnal wildlife. Fence your property or yard. It is recommended the fence be at least six feet tall with the bottom extending at /least six inches below the ground and or a foot outward. A roller system can be attached to the top of the fence, preventing animals from gaining the foothold they need to pull themselves up and over the top of a fence. Keep Pets Safe Cats and small dogs may be seen as prey by coyotes, while larger dogs may be injured in a confrontation. To avoid these situations consider the following suggestions: Install proper fencing (see above). Animals should be kept inside at night. Keep all pets on leashes or con- fined to a yard. Keep cats indoors and do not allow pets to roam from home. Walk your dog on a leash at all times. If your yard does not have a fence, use a leash while on your prop- erty to keep your dog close to you. Spay or neuter your dogs. Coyotes are attracted to, and can mate with, domestic dogs that have not been spayed or neutered. For more information on the /towns wildlife initiatives, visit http:/ www.oakville.ca/wildlife.htm Seminar aims to reduce tensions about urban coyotes CLOSE ENCOUNTER: Mylene Farion snapped this photo of a coyote in a parkette in the Odessa and Oxford Street area on Aug. 30. MYLENE FARION / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER