Manchester Road Kitchener

by Jim
(Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)

While walking my dog on leash on the trail behind our house on Manchester Road, Kitchener, I saw what appeared to be about the size of a large Retriever, although more drab in colour.

I stopped walking and did not get close, as I did not recognize the animal. The animal just stood in the middle of the trail and watched intently.

I backed away and later heard that Coyotes had been seen and believed to be living in an overgrown area at the end of Manchester Road.

I am concerned with this, with the number of children playing in the bush area and creek.

For the most part, Coyotes live fairly well in the proximity of humans, hunting rabbits, mice and other small animals. The problems occur because Coyotes can't tell the difference between a rabbit (their prey) and a small dog (our pet) and we think that they are a nuisance.

If I were you, I'd let your neighbours know that you have seen Coyotes in the area and suggest that they tell their children not to play alone, but to play in groups, and for them to be aware that there are Coyotes in the vicinity.

Coyote attacks on children are incredibly rare (much rarer than domestic dog attacks on children), and I have heard of two in the thirty years I have lived in Southern Ontario, but that doesn't mean that it can't happen.