It’s a rural agricultural problem a lot of urban residents are now begining to experience.
Coyotes are starting to hunt in residential areas and are preying on family pets like dogs and cats.
Ontario Federation of Agriculture President Betty Jean Crews tells Bayshore Broadcasting News that some urban residents are now experiencing what she calls a huge problem for farmers.
She says coyote predation in parts of Southern Ontario has been increasing for years and is showing no signs of slowing down.
Crews says livestock kills by coyotes and other wildlife cost taxpayers over a million dollars in compensation payments in 2008.
She says there is virtually no way for a farmer to protect his livestock from these cunning animals other than to stand guard 24-7 over his sheep or cattle.
Crews says that is simply impossible and they want the Provincial Government to put in place some form of process to help farmers hire hunters or trappers to try and eliminate the problem.
Locally there has been some help for farmers to keep the coyote population in check as Bruce County has recently doubled its payment to licensed hunters who harvest coyotes.
Even the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters understands the scope of the problem and is urging the municipalities to introduce incentive programs aimed at reducing local problems.
The OFAH says Hunting pressure can help alleviate the highly negative socioeconomic impact that coyote predation and overpopulation is having in parts of Ontario.