Another coyote encounter
A Milton woman is calling on action from the Town of Milton after a recent encounter with a coyote.

Last week, Charlene Walsh was taking her two dogs for a morning walk along the Maple Woodlot Trail when she spotted a group of what she believes to be coyotes wandering through Knight Trail Park, located west of Maple Avenue and north of Main Street.

“I almost had a coronary,” she said. “It’s frightening that they’re now being more visible and have no fear.”

While Walsh and her dogs, a Yorkie and a shih tzu, waited on a nearby porch for the coyotes to pass and were unharmed, getting that close to wild and potentially dangerous animals left her shook up and wanting to do something to protect others.

Now, she’s pushing for the Town to erect signs in the area that would warn the community, particularly those with dogs and children, to be cautious.

“I feel they (the Town) have a responsibility to some degree to warn the public. I know the deal that you can’t move them (coyotes), but those in the area need to be warned that they’re here. They’re being seen during the daytime hours and appear not to be timid.”

This isn’t the first time Walsh has seen what she believes to be coyotes in her neighbourhood, located east of Thompson Road and north of Main Street. She said she has also spotted them while walking on the Woodward Woodlot Trail that runs between Thompson Road and Robarts Drive.

Ward 4 Councillor Rick Malboeuf said he’s aware that coyote sightings have become an issue all throughout Milton, Oakville and Burlington.

“Signs may be a good way to go,” he said, adding there also needs to be public education around keeping pets on leash and being cautious when going out for walks in the late evening or early morning.

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