Coyotes in qathet

In the 31 years that Nelson Rubletz has lived on his 10-acre property on Padgett Road, he’s seen a wolf, cougars, bear and deer but until last month, he’d never seen a coyote.

“I’m in an area where the wildlife always cross,” he told qathet Living magazine. But at 8:30am on August 23, all that changed as Nelson looked out his window and saw a coyote just standing there. “It was a young coyote,” he said. “And he was around my garden.”

Nelson went outside and the coyote walked slowly towards the bush.

Andrew Anaka, Conservation Officer for the Sunshine Coast said there have been regular sighting reports of coyotes in the qathet Regional District for the past four years.

“It would appear to be a natural progression as they have been abundant in the lower coast for many years. More recently, they’ve found their way to Earl’s Cove and Nelson Island,” he said noting that getting to qathet from there is only a short hop.

“I would say that there is now an established population in Powell River. They will do well. The only reports to COS [Conservation Office Service] have been sightings. Coyotes are considered dangerous wildlife and attracting them to property is illegal under the Wildlife Act,” he added.