KIRKLAND — The town of Kirkland has issued an advisory warning residents to watch out for a stray coyote seen wandering around neighbourhoods in the area.
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According to Nicki Fleming, a biologist with the Ecomuseum, coyote sightings on the Island of Montreal, especially in the West Island, are relatively common:
“It’s just they’re discreet. We usually don’t see them.”
There are no firm estimates of the coyote population on the Island of Montreal. They can move quickly, often using train tracks as roadways, and tend to hunt alone or in pairs.
“When you have forests, you have coyotes.” — Jacques Nadeau
Jacques Nadeau, a spokesperson with the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, said coyotes only rarely attack humans, but residents should be wary of allowing small pets off a leash.
Anyone who sees a coyote should call Kirkland’s municipal patrol at 514-630-1234, who will call the ministry to capture the animal.