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Students are being educated about coyotes Continued from page 1 5 · Thursday, February 2, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com every single circumstance that has been investigated, wherever there is an incident or a conflict, intentional feeding in that neighbourhood has been determined to be the case," said Pisapio. "What's happening there is someone who has given the coyote something and he gets used to that and they lose their fear. Then the coyote comes to someone else." He said the wild animal can't distinguish between people so they don't know who is going to feed them. "Sometimes they get aggressive and they push." Pisapio also said unintentional feeding can have the same effect and called on residents with fruit trees not to let fruit lie around as coyotes will be attracted to it. Residents were also told that if they live in an area where there is a coyote problem, they may want to ease up on using their birdfeeders, as birdfeeders can attract rodents, which in turn can attract coyotes. Putting garbage out the day of trash pick-up and not the day before was another suggestion aimed at decreasing coyote interest in area neighbourhoods. While Halton police are confident the coyote that bit the eight-year-old girl was the same animal shot and killed on Jan. 19, officials are taking steps to try to prevent similar problems. The Town's director of environmental policy, Cindy Toth, said the Town is responding to com- ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER getting the facts: Oakville resident Kim Ramsahoye, whose dog Chaci was attacked by a coyote while out on a walk with Ramsahoye earlier this month, asks questions during a Town of Oakville coyote information night for residents at St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre Tuesday. plaints about the intentional feeding of coyotes and complaints about organic waste on public properties, which may also attract wild animals. "We need the community to help us with this," said Toth. "We have the Adopt-A-Trail and the AdoptA-Park programs, which residents or community groups or businesses can sign up for. The program involves making sure those spaces are clean and free of litter that might attract coyotes." Toth said the Town is reviewing its bylaws to try to minimize intentional feeding issues and has been working with the Oakville & Milton Humane Society. The society has been conducting patrols in coyote-frequented areas, particularly before and after school. The Town is working with the school boards to educate students about what they should do if they encounter a coyote, Toth said, and signs are being placed in key areas, which warn residents the animals are present and instructs them what to do in the event they come across a wild dog. "If you do run into an aggressive coyote there are some things you need to know," said Pisapio. "You never turn and run. Anyone who knows a dog, knows they are hardwired to chase. If something runs away, they chase. So stand your ground. You need to communicate to that animal, however you can, that its approach is not welcome. Once you have done that, either by yelling or waving your arms or whatever, the animal will read that, it will understand and back away. If at any point you honestly feel your personal safety is in jeopardy, call police, that's what they're there for." Walking with a stick or an air horn were other coyote-deterring suggestions. Michael Howie, editor of North Oakville Today, also spoke at the meeting and encouraged residents not to be frightened by media reports about coyotes, which he believes are often sensationalized to get the public's attention. "Consider this. The media has the power of fear in our pocket. Every day we make choices as to which words to use. Our goal, particularly with headlines, is to grab attention and keep your eyes on the page. Fear will do this," said Howie. 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