Living in Aurora, Town of Aurora, Ontario » Coyote

Coyote Sighting, Hamilton Park Near Playground On Pinnacle Trail

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 19:15:15 +0000

It was kind of ironic that just yesterday for some reason I was thinking about the coyotes. It warmed up and we decided to go for a long walk. We walked from home all the way to the Arboretum entrance on Industrial Parkway.

Industrial Parkway, Community Arboretum

We walked the trail and walked out on the Somerton Ct and then headed for the playground at the Thompson Park. We usually walk all the way to the Optimist Park, but then thinking about the coyote made me cut our trail walk short.

Did coyote hear me?

Perhaps.

Today around eleven we were walking on the Pinnacle Trail. It was us, a caregiver with three children and other couple walking. Matthew with other little boy was running ahead of us.

At some point when we were calling them to get back to us – this dog came out from the Hamilton Park (soccer field) right onto Pinnacle Trail and headed West towards St. Andrew’s Golf Course. He was at least five houses away from us. When I walked up to the playground he was already gone.

Coyote Came Out From Here

At first I thought, oh no not another dog off the leash. But then it did not look like a dog. It did not walk like a dog. It was on the mission. It was definitely a coyote, and a good size coyote too – tall and slender. He crossed the road and walked on the sidewalk, definitely passed by the playground unnoticed.

Playground at the Hamilton Park, Pinnacle Trail

Later walking on the Rush Road we found garbage mess. We thought may be he was looking for the food – they always do. I think these sightings will be more common especially with all all the loose rabbits and chipmunks hanging out in our subdivision on our front and back yards.

Now message to all the parents – don’t loose sight of your child on the playground. The play structure can block your view. Stay with your child all the time especially in the areas where there is a lot of open park land and trees.

This was my second sighting of the coyote in the Hamilton Park. First time I was actually at the soccer field when I saw one snooping around on the other side. I don’t know how much we can do about the wildlife around us, but do keep your eyes open around you and watch your small children.

Sorry no picture – I wasn’t fast enough. It is usually the shock of the unexpected slows me down getting my camera. Not to mention safety is always first and we had two children ahead of us.

What To Do If There Is A Coyote In The Neighbourhood In Richmond Hill?

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 04:09:33 +0000

This blog has the Google Analytics code installed. That means that in my Google Analytics reports I can see for which keywords my site displayed in the Google search engine.

Sometimes I really have to laugh what things people search for and sometimes I am not sure if they can find what they are looking for, but my site sometimes appears for those funny keywords.

For example, one day someone typed ‘i hate aurora‘. Funny, may be that person was looking for everyone who hates Aurora, but we don’t really know what Aurora they were implying too, as we know that in United States there are many. Aurora can also be a person’s name.

I checked what keywords came up in my reports today and I found this one, which was actually a question. I may as well provide the answer and if you wish you can always write yours in comments.

Exact words, ‘What To Do If There Is A Coyote In The Neighborhood In Richmond Hill?‘.

Well, well you can always send this coyote to the Town of Aurora neighborhood.

Coyotes Back In Aurora, February Start Of The Mating Season, Happy Valentines

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:56:00 +0000

I have been deliberating – got no pictures of coyotes, have seen couple and no body is emphasizing that coyote mating season starts in February. I doubt they are looking for a dog companion perhaps more like food for Valentine’s dinner.

Yes I have been deliberating if I should write few things that I have on my mind about coyotes – everyone else did it including politicians.

So I have seen two coyotes.

St. Andrew's Golf Course

Not this year. But last year I saw one crossing Vandorf (common in that area).

Then few months later the second coyote I saw was in the Hamilton Park soccer field (near St. John’s sideroad). That day on the opposite side of the field I spotted unleashed dog sniffing around.

I don’t trust unleashed dogs, so myself and Matthew decided to head home. I know I turned few times behind me and there was no sign of any dog owner, just that one dog. He looked like Husky from far away. It hit me later.

Just Husky Dog In The Dog Leash Free Park, Industrial Parkway

My neighbour once told me (3-4 years ago) that five or six coyotes have been killed in that same area, Hamilton Park soccer field. There was no publicity for that event. The same neightbour told me that she many times heard howling at night, but then it went away. I guess her killing story was correct.

Few weeks ago, my other neighbour couple of times saw coyotes coming out the St. Andrew’s Golf Course. I guess no body is golfing now so they have place for themselves to hunt. That one time the coyotes face was all bloody – she told me.

I understand that food chain is important, but I prefer vegetarian animals over the meat eating coyotes. Oh just the image of the poor rabbit being eaten. Oh, on other note my backyard rabbit is also missing.

Community Arboretum, Coyotes On The Map

My thoughts.

What can we do? Do not kill and do not relocate, and do not feed. Stay alert and educate yourself. The bottom line is that coyotes always will be in our area and there is nothing we can do beside to be alert and to be cautious.

Do I like it? No, not one bit, but this is not any different than having a giant dog off the leash running around the neighbourhood. So may be this is a wake up call for dog owners to keep dogs on the leash at all times.

Now that we have all this attention going on in our town about coyotes I thought that we may need a map of coyotes sightings. That will be a very useful page that can be added to any of the Town of Aurora printed materials released to the public.

Bear Sighting, Aurora Issues Bear Warning

Anna Lozyk Romeo — Tue, 10 May 2011 03:52:48 +0000

This morning I was reading The Banner, and found a little article that bears are back in Aurora around Bathrust Street and Handerson Drive. Okay that is still far from the area where I live, but because couple years ago they were found around Wellington Street, today I went out for our daily trip with a little fear on my back.

Well after tonight’s news on CP24 about the bear sighting (not just one, but two), and additional news from Town of Aurora website, Bear sightings in Aurora: Town cautions residents, and news from York Region Aurora issues bear warning, I may have to learn more about bears. It would be nice to photograph them, but no thanks.

Upon request we walked the Arboretum path from St. John’s sideroad and Industrial Parkway. I say upon request, because my three year old knows that the trail leads to the playground.

It was a beautiful day today, not just for us, but for all the birds. I saw at least 10 species of birds, and no bears (phew). Afternoon bright light is not the best for photographing birds, and sometimes I hate to adjust settings because lets face it, birds like to fly. However, if you don’t chase them, they will come to you. No real close up shots, but these photos should show you where each specie likes to hang out.

Eastern Kingbirds are definitely back. They can be easily mistaken for the Tree Swallow, but once you see them perching, definitely nice bird to observe. They also like to perch on the wire fences.

Eastern Kingbird

I think this year exceptionally many more Red-Wing Black Birds. I have so many photos of them, but this one was definitely calling for attention.

Red-Wing Black Bird

Oh these were always my favorite little birds – the Tree Swallows. They were flying every where, I had to follow their flying path to find where they land. Later in the walk I found one Tree Swallow going into the house, small corner. It looked like a nest, but when I zoomed it was a destroyed nest. What a terrible act to do? Well some people don’t like the nests, I guess. Growing up on a small farm many moons ago, we all knew that destroying nest of the swallow was a bad luck. We also knew that when the swallow fly close to the ground, the rain was in the forecast.

Tree Swallow

The bright yellow Gold Finches are never hard to spot.

American Gold Finch

The photo of the Cedar Waxwing didn’t really come out, but I guess I got him during his lunch. They like to eat berries.

Cedar Waxwing

It turned out to be a nice trip through the Aurora Arboretum. Our little trip, but not so little because lasted us 2.5 hours. Good news – no bears. Good news – no coyotes, since they been in the news couple of months ago. Good news – no foxes. My friend emailed me about her recent fox encounter in Aurora. While gardening her husband discovered two dead squirrel. Later they discovered it was a fox. My mother-in-law has a fox on her backyard too. It was more evident during the winter because of the footprints we found close to the patio door.

Sometimes it makes me wonder about the wild life in Aurora. The population of the Aurora is growing, more residential areas are added – and still I feel like there is more wild animals and birds in the area I am walking most of the time. What’s happening? I really don’t have the answer to that, but may be birds moved to the Arboretum or McKenzie marsh areas because of all the new subdivisions; or they simply adapting to us.