Coyotes generally do not pose a danger to people, but can pose a danger for pets.
Here are key things you can do to avoid negative encounters with coyotes:
Coyotes have lived in the downtown area for many years. However, conflicts have increased recently due to several factors, including an increase in the number of construction and redevelopment projects, increased density, decreasing green space, direct and indirect feeding, and off-leash dogs.
The City is operationalizing a Downtown Coyote Action Plan that, in addition to continuing to respond to individual incidents and conducting aversion conditioning, involves a comprehensive, multi-part plan covering:
This will help create a longer-term solution for wildlife, pet and human safety.
From foxes, to racoons, coyotes and deer, Toronto shares its landscape with wildlife every day. It is very normal to encounter wild animals in the city. The City invites residents to learn more about their behaviour and how to co-exist peacefully so that sharing our space is safe and enjoyable for all.
Coyotes live in cities throughout North America and they are transient, so it is typical to see coyotes in a park, ravine, other green space and even on your street, at any time of the day or night and during all the seasons.
Coyotes have lived in the Toronto for many years and are present all across the city. Coyotes have adapted very well to life in Toronto as food and shelter are plentiful and natural predators are limited. So, these animals will continue to live near us.
We are one part of an interconnected system that encompasses all living things, including animals, people, plants and other life. Managing wildlife responsibly supports the health of all components of this system.
In addition, coyotes play an important role in maintaining the health of urban ecosystems by creating balance in local food chains. Coexisting with coyotes is a sustainable and cost-effective way to maintain ecological balance and public safety.
Understanding our place within the natural world, learning about coyote behaviour, and participating in prevention and aversion efforts are all essential steps towards maintaining the vibrant ecosystem that makes Toronto a place where people want to live, work, and play.
Coyote and human conflicts are unusual, and the following are normal coyote behaviour:
It is not normal for a coyote to jump on, bite, or attack a human without reason.
Download a printable factsheet on coyotes in your park and neighbourhood.
Take an e-learning course on Coyotes in the Urban Landscape to learn basic facts about coyote behaviour and how both animals and people can remain safe. This informational module has been created in partnership with Coyote Watch Canada.
You can contact 311, particularly if you see a coyote:
Using specific techniques to compel wildlife to move away from humans is known as aversion conditioning. If a coyote approaches you, do not run or turn your back. Instead:
Recognizing that coyotes are an important part of Toronto’s diverse ecology, helping to control rodent and rabbit populations, the City’s goal is to preserve wildlife and coexist with them. We want to protect our incredibly diverse wildlife and all the thousands of unique species calling this city home.
The City’s 2013 Coyote Response Strategy aims to reduce negative interactions between humans, their pets and property, and coyotes. The strategy includes:
While the City does its best to support wildlife in their natural habitat, if animal behaviour changes in a way that jeopardizes public safety, then the City takes escalated action, which may include a range of options.
The Downtown Coyote Action Plan will be used to inform broader updates to the City Coyote Response Strategy. The updated strategy will be brought to the Economic and Community Development Committee and City Council for endorsement later in 2025.