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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, January 22, 2016 | 4 LexusofoakviLLe.ca Closed bins could deter coyotes by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff A woman, who lives in the vicinity of Wedgewood Park, is calling on the Town to switch to enclosed garbage cans at its outdoor facilities following a close encounter with a coyote. Elaine Wood said the open metal garbage cans, located at the entrance to local parks, are an open invitation for coyotes as they offer an easy food source. She found this out firsthand on a recent walk near Wedgewood Park. "I was out for a walk around noon and literally stumbled upon this coyote," said Wood. In pictures provided by Wood, a coyote can be seen apparently investigating an overflowing garbage can. Wood said enclosed public garbage bins would cut off this food source and remove one of the key factors drawing coyotes closer to residential areas. Public concerns about coyotes have been on the rise in recent weeks as an outbreak of mange is causing the animals to come closer to residential areas seeking warmth and food. Last week, a coyote made headlines when it approached students at Oakville Trafalgar High School. Police were called to the scene, but the canine ran away as they approached. Earlier this week, Oakville Beaver photographer Justin Greaves spotted and snapped a photo of a coyote strolling down Third Line near the South Oakville Centre. Town Director of Parks and Open Space Chris Mark said while most park garbage cans are open, there are a number of enclosed Since 1952 Oakville's Elaine Wood snapped this photo of a coyote in Wedgewood Park, apparently attracted by garbage in the park receptacle. | photo by Elaine Wood F SPORT SERIES 3 Shown Carpet Cleaning Specialists On The Spot! Residential & commeRcial Wall to Wall FURnitURe & UPHolsteRY aRea RUGs PeRsian & oRiental Lease THe ALL nEW 4th GEnErAtion for$699 2016 rX 350 /month + hSt. Truck Mount In-Plant Service Water damage Restoration Lease offer is based on 39 month term at 3.9% with $4800 Down Payment. 20,000 kms allowance per year for a total of 65,000 kms over the full term of the lease. Kilometer overage is calculated at $0.20 per kilometer + HST. Offer valid until February 1st, 2016. Please visit Lexus of Oakville or lexusofoakville.ca for details. See the transformation of what we can do in relation to others! VOTED BEST CARPET & RUG CLEANERS 16 YEARS IN A ROW! drop-off discount! 25% 1453 North service road West, oakville, oN l6M 2W2 905.847.8400 · 1.866.lexus.66 905-825-4256 Bronte www.onthespotcleaning.ca 1446 WaLLacE Rd. QEW OakvILLE, ON Speers Wallace FREE 250 mL SPOTTING BOTTLE models in town. A few of these are in Glen Abbey and a couple in southeast Oakville, but he agreed there should be more. "Putting the hoods on these cans is something we should and we can do in the near future especially in the OT (Oakville Trafalgar) area, where we've got this coyote right now that is giving us problems," said Mark. "We can probably do that in the next week or two weeks." Mark said the enclosed garbage cans serve two purposes: they keep wildlife out of the garbage and deter residents from dumping illegally. Town staff recommend residents not throw food waste into these bins. "It just leads to habituating wildlife. It's habituating coyotes, squirrels, raccoons, foxes. Putting food out in the garbage cans is just an absolute no-no," said Mark. "The wildlife should be in the valleys and the wildlife corridors that we have, instead of being in the neighbourhood park because they've got access to food." Mark also referenced the overflowing park garbage cans noting while the garbage in the cans is collected a minimum of once a week, there is a big problem with illegal dumping at these cans. He called on residents to report these overflowing cans at 905-8456601 so they can be emptied. Mark also pointed out when a problem with illegal dumping is found in a neighbourhood, the Town distributes flyers to surrounding residents asking them to refrain from this behaviour. "The full can is unsightly; secondly, it smells; and thirdly, it creates food for wildlife and especially coyotes," said Mark.