A St. Paul family was heartbroken when a beloved family pet was taken from their yard by a coyote on May 9.
Troy Tilley lives in the back nine golf course subdivision and his wife took their black Maltese poodle out into the yard and when her back was turned for just a few minutes, the coyote slipped in and snatched the dog from the back yard.
“She looked and saw the coyote with our dog in its mouth," said Tilley. He recalled hearing his wife scream. “It was one of those screams where you know it's not good. By the time I got down, the coyote was a good hundred yards away."
Tilley explained the coyote was within 10 yards of the house and his wife was in the yard at the time.
“What would have happened if there was a small child there?" questioned Tilley. He said his family is very upset by the incident as they have had the dog for seven years and it was an important part of the family.
“If I lived in the country on an acreage, then I could shoot the coyotes, but in town I can't discharge a firearm," said Tilley.
The MD of Bonnyville and the County of Two Hills both had bounties on coyotes last year but the County of St. Paul did not, said Dennis Bergheim, agricultural fieldman. He said coyotes are not a big problem right now but they have some poisons available for farmers if they prove there is a problem.
On advice from the RCMP, Tilley contacted the local Fish and Wildlife Department and the Town of St. Paul.
Ryan Berezanski, peace officer for the Town of St. Paul, confirmed he received a call about the incident. In response, the Town phoned every house in the subdivision to warn them about the incident. Tilley said the Town of St. Paul took his concerns seriously and he was thankful they called his neighbours to warn them as some families have small children.
Tilley said that he is somewhat disappointed Fish and Wildlife is not doing more. He said he received a phone call giving him information about urban coyotes but he was hoping that they might take steps to reduce the numbers of coyotes in the area.
“I see them almost every day now," said Tilley.
Duane Fleming, district Fish and Wildlife officer, confirmed urban coyotes are a problem in communities close to nature. Coyotes have even been seen in Edmonton. He recommended people in the area take preventative measures.
“Coyotes come into towns for two reasons, for food and for shelter," said Fleming. Reducing food means feeding pets indoors and making sure garbage is secured. To reduce shelter areas, make sure sheds and open places are blocked off with chicken wire. He has brochures at the office and he encourages concerned residents to pick one up.
This is an isolated incident, said Fleming, and if there are other incidences, he asked that people call his office to report them. “We want to hear about it," he said.
If the coyotes become a threat to humans, then, along with the Town and RCMP, they would take some action.
