Wild in the City

Coyotes and Foxes - we have a role in their survival by Sasan Beni, seasonal gardener.

Our city is a forest. I’ve known this for quite some time. Toronto parks and ravines are home to a wide array of animals—some year-round residents, some migratory—all of whom have to traverse our ever-growing canopy of concrete and glass, our roadways of exhausted commut-ers, our pollution and pets.I have always enjoyed catching glimpses of our wild neighbours, studying their movements. Like us, they have their routines and daily chores, their favourite spots and meals, but they have to contend with more threats than we do on a daily basis.

I am no longer surprised by the abundance of wildlife that I find, the close proximity of their homes to ours, or their growing level of comfort. What surprises me these days is that many Torontonians have no idea that these creatures are there, right ‘next door’—in the mound of dirt behind the back fence, or the hole in the retaining wall—and I very much enjoy making the introductions, when and where I can.

Working at TBG gives me the opportunity to introduce visitors to these animals, whenever they show up in the garden or wander through the grounds, looking for food. I have always been a fan of watching them, tracking them, learning about them, but nowadays, I find myself constantly striving to show others. I want everyone to experience the wildness of our city, to witness these animals, and to know that we have a role to play in their survival.

There is no coyote problem

Let’s talk about coyotes, probably one of the more misunderstood and feared of our urban wildlife. Like us, animals have their baggage, too, including reputations that have taken years to form. Predators like coyotes and foxes play a vital role in any ecosystem. Without them, rodent populations would increase drastically. I have heard in recent years, especially in my Toronto Beaches neighborhood, about our city’s “coyote problem”. There is no such thing. People often dislike them, because they pose a threat to their pets. Of course, a hungry coyote will not differentiate between a rat and a house cat, or small dog. Letting your pets wander outside puts them in danger. This is why, simply being aware of the forest we inhabit, makes us all safer.

I have had many run-ins with coyotes over the years, some in highly populated areas. Most often they have been in need of help. I’m sure many of us have heard the term: “mangy coyote”. Mange is a common affliction for canines, a skin disease brought on by parasitic mites. Tell-tale signs of the disease are missing patches of fur on the animal’s face and body. Mangy coyotes will be much thinner than their healthy counterparts, as they struggle to find food. In their diseased desperation, coyotes may approach humans, when normally they would avoid us at all cost. Feeding them is a mistake. Witnessing a mangy coyote reduced to skin and bone is a heartbreaking sight, but I want to tell you all that the condition is totally treatable, that we can help them overcome it. Without our help, they will surely starve to death.

Our city is a forest, and the Toronto Wildlife Centre is one organization that knows this well and strives to keep it that way. They take in and rehabilitate hundreds of sick, injured and orphaned animals, with the eventual goal of releasing them back where they were found. I have reported a few mangy coyote sightings and encourage you to do the same, not just with coyotes, but any animal that needs our attention. A quick visit to the TWC website at www.torontowildlifecentre.com is all the proof one needs regarding the vast biodiversity of our beloved metropolis. Their homepage declares: “280 patients currently in care, 48 species currently in care, 1,093 patients admitted so far this year.” I am always proud of the work they do.

Mangy coyote in the undergrowth

Let’s talk about foxes

When I was a kid, I used to see foxes in the city quite frequently, and then, for several years, their numbers plummeted, which was related in great part to our rising urban coyote population. Coyotes will prey on fox dens. It comes as no surprise that the clever foxes have found an interesting way to adapt to this growing danger. In recent years, they have been building their dens in highly populated areas, popping up in people’s backyards, or on walking paths that humans have overrun. We are the lesser of two evils for them, and they know that coyotes won’t frequent these locations as much.

Last year, a fox family moved in under the busy Woodbine Beach boardwalk, near my home. They quickly became a tourist attraction. People were already flocking to the beach in great numbers, during the first wave and lockdown of the pandemic that we are still grappling with, and once word got out about the foxes, more and more people went to catch a glimpse. People were seen peering into the den, trying to lure the foxes out for the sake of photographs. Soon enough, barricades were set up around the area to keep people away, to give the fox family some space and help them remain wild. When animals build their homes so close to us, it doesn’t mean they wish to be domesticated.

Organizations like TWC and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority do a great job of educating the public. There are posters and signs, indicating the presence of wildlife, letting people know that they are in a nature preserve, like Tommy Thompson Park, filled with numerous species. Sadly, people still bring their dogs, letting them run off-leash. Last year, one fox kit was killed by an off-leash dog at Woodbine Beach. I tell myself that these people just don’t know, they aren’t aware, and if they were, I am sure they would change their ways.

This year, the mother fox has returned to the same location and activists are once again pleading with the public to give them space.

Nobody likes a close wildlife encounter more than I do, believe me, but we have a responsibility to preserve the wildness that makes Toronto so special. If that means avoiding the boardwalk all summer, I will do just that.

A couple weeks ago, after running a few errands, I stopped at a tiny dead-end ravine by my home, surrounded by houses on all sides, a place that often looks more like a large trash receptacle than a safe-haven for animals. Less than 50 metres away from me, off the litter-filled trail, a fox was sleeping in the open, completely visible. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon. I could hear children playing in a backyard; construction in a house down the street. People passed on the road above us, as I sat there for about an hour, watching the sleeping beauty. It was quite the sighting—a kind I’ve never had before. I think, at one point, I even spoke to the fox, whispering things like: “I’m glad you’re here,” and “ sorry about all the trash”.

I will go back to clean it up as best I can. Any and all help is appreciated...

Our city is a forest. I’ve known this for quite some time. Enjoying our parks, means ensuring their health. Keep an eye out, friends.

Sleeping fox

We have a responsibility to preserve the wildness that makes Toronto so special.