Bunny, a Toronto Treasure

I was heartened after last week’s post to see so many people concerned about the well-being of Bunny, the no-tail coyote. When I see her, I sometimes hear people behind me worrying that she is not getting enough to eat or that she looks small. Some suggest it might be a kindness if she were trapped and relocated to a forest somewhere. Research shows that relocation has a high failure and mortality rate for coyotes.

Bunny is very capable of getting her own meals and eating a natural diet. She also knows the geography of the city better than any of us. Even though she may not have a specific territory within the city, she knows the travel corridors, the food sources, and the places to rest. Toronto is currently her home, and removing her to an unfamiliar forest would likely lead to her demise. She could starve if she could not find food. She could be pushed out of the area by other predators and end up in another urban environment. She could be shot or trapped, or even brought to one of Doug Ford’s approved hunting pens where foxes and coyotes are chased and killed by hounds. At least here, she is in a familiar area.

Just this past weekend I watched her catch and eat a squirrel. There are plenty for her to hunt, as the parks are full of them. Whenever I see her, she is focused on squirrels. She inspects the trees, lowers her ears and head, and walks slowly toward the base of a tree where a squirrel is perched. Sometimes the squirrels shift to the opposite side of the trunk. She will take a quick look and move on to the next one.

Bunny’s success is directly tied to our human restraint. As much as people might feel tempted, no one should feed her or any coyote. Step back and give her the space to catch her own meals. She is a Toronto treasure.