Trapping underway for coyotes that approached hiker near Mahone Bay trail system

Nuisance trapping for coyotes is underway near a trail system in Mahone Bay, N.S., after several reports of aggressive and unusual behaviour in the area.

Andrew Boyne, director of wildlife with the Department of Natural Resources, said there was at least one incident where several coyotes approached a person and their pet on the Bay to Bay Trail.

"In this situation, we did not have an attack. This was just a group of animals that was acting aggressively," Boyne told CBC Radio's Information Morning Halifax on Monday.

"We've had a number of reports from the area — I think four of which would have been deemed aggressive, but only one was deemed to have been significant enough to warrant a stepping in."

Boyne said the department has hired a wildlife trapper trained for aggressive animals who will use restraining cables and leg-hold traps to capture the coyotes. The animals will later be euthanized.

He said the traps are set about 300 to 500 metres off the trail, so they shouldn't pose any threat to humans or their pets.

Boyne said one coyote has been caught so far. Any captured coyotes will be put down, he said, because relocating the animals isn't feasible.

"For one, you'd end up putting it somewhere where it's undoubtedly going to be back close to other human activity. It's already habituated," he said.

"And it also causes problems because you're depositing a coyote in an area where inevitably there are other coyotes so you then cause stress, so in a situation like this where we have aggressive animals, they are put down."

More education needed

Hope Swinimer, the founder of Hope for Wildlife in Seaforth, N.S., said it's unfortunate the coyotes must be put down, but she understands why it's necessary in the interest of public safety.

But, she said, there are better ways to handle the situation, including more education and preparedness for people going into the woods.

"We've got to share our space with nature … we, of all provinces, have to really educate ourselves and prepare ourselves just like we would for walking and thinking about ticks or mosquitoes or even humans," Swinimer told Information Morning.

"We study up, we learn, we prepare and we go into the woods prepared. I think that's a much better solution than perhaps leg-holds and destroying the animal."

Swinimer said it's possible the coyote that came up to the walker and their pet had been fed by someone and became comfortable around humans.

"We need to be particularly careful, as much as we enjoy seeing nature or photographing nature or encouraging nature around our property, we need to do it in a very smart way so that these animals don't approach other humans that aren't as comfortable," she said.

Boyne said for the most part, coyotes aren't aggressive animals. They're shy and don't want to be around people, so they'll take off if they hear or see a human.

He said if you do encounter a coyote, a person should use the "BAM" method, which stands for back away, act big and make noise. 

"We hope that people will continue to access and take advantage of Nova Scotia's outdoor recreation opportunities.… Our woods are safe. These situations are quite rare."

He said if someone sees a coyote acting aggressively they should call their local DNR office.