Investigation continues after woman gets caught in coyote trap

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is continuing its investigation after a 19-year-old woman was caught in a coyote foothold trap while walking her dog last week.

Krystle Morrow and her border collie, Koby, were walking along a familiar snowmobile trail not far from their Calypso Street home when they became ensnared in foothold traps that had been set to trap coyotes.

The Review requested an interview with the young woman, but her father, Kevin Morrow, said his daughter was trying to recover from her injuries and was "tired of talking to reporters and repeating the same story over and over."

He did say that there were three traps secured to a 55-kilogram birch log and Krystle was unable to free herself or her dog from their grasp. As a result, Krystle was forced to drag the log for about a kilometre through the snow to get help.
When she finally made it back to her home, she was unable to navigate the hallway with the log to reach the phone and call for help. Kevin said he found his daughter sitting bloodied with her dog in the family's living room, almost three hours later when he returned from work.
A retired fire chief, Kevin managed to free his daughter and the dog from the traps and called an ambulance.
"I didn't realize that her fingers (were) caught in the trap - she was more concerned about Koby and his condition," he said.
While Koby managed to escape without serious injury, two of Krystle's fingers on her left hand were cut "almost to the bone" and her hand is now wrapped up to her wrist.
Kevin said his daughter knows how lucky she and Koby are. He described his family as "animal lovers" and said he is hopeful that trapping in the area will stop.
He said concerns about coyotes in the Ottawa-area have prompted many people to set up traps and he is hopeful no one else will have to suffer an accident such as this.
Jolanta Kowalski, senior media relations officer with the MNR, told The Review that the incident is still under investigation because "one of the traps at that spot was illegal."
In the meantime, Kowalski said, the ministry is encouraging people to walk on their own properties or public property, where they know traps will not be present.
"Our main concern is to keep people safe," she said. "We are trying to educate the public about coyotes and keep them safe from them and traps at the same time."
The township of Alfred-Plantagenet has sent a letter to the MNR requesting a hunt for coyotes and beavers within the municipality. Chief administrative office (CAO) Marc Daigneault noted while the township did not receive any "formal complaints" about coyotes, residents coming in to pay their tax bills have commented that they have seen coyotes in the area and in some cases, the animals are becoming a nuisance.
"A letter was sent to the MNR to allow for the hunting," he explained. "The ministry will determine the conditions by which this hunting will be allowed. We have no more information for the moment. Should the ministry accept our request, there would be a notice in the newspaper explaining the conditions for the hunt."
Coyotes pose the largest threat to farmers, many of whom are losing livestock such as sheep and cattle, to coyotes.
"We received two distinct claims from farmers, each claiming compensation from the province for the loss of a sheep that was killed by coyotes," Daigneault said. "The municipality acts as mediator between the ministry and the individual - we pay the claim and ask the province for reimbursement. It is a concern out here for farmers."
According to Brent Ross, spokesperson and senior communications advisor with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), statistics indicate that livestock claims from farmers due to predation by wolves and coyotes in Prescott-Russell and Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry (SD&G) are on the decline.
"The data clearly indicates that predation by wolves and coyotes has declined over the past few years," he commented. "The ministry does not differentiate between a wolf kill and a coyote kill in its numbers. They are counted together."
In 2007/2008, a total of five cattle, two goats and 57 sheep were injured or killed by wolves or coyotes in Prescott-Russell, resulting in $8,796 in compensation being paid. In SD&G, a total of 20 cattle, one horse, 16 poultry and 57 sheep were injured or killed, resulting in $19,417 in compensation.
In 2008/2009, three cattle, one goat and 65 sheep were injured or killed in Prescott-Russell, resulting in $10,516 in compensation, while a total of 18 cattle, one goat, three poultry and 51 sheep were injured or killed in SD&G, resulting in $17,336 in compensation.
Ross provided statistics for 2009/2010 but noted they will not be complete until the end of March.
To date, four cattle have been injured or killed in Prescott-Russell, resulting in $5,585 in compensation being paid, while in SD&G, 13 cattle, three goats, three poultry and 31 have been injured or killed, resulting in $4,442 in compensation.
When asked how the MNR handles requests such as the one from Alfred-Plantagenet, Kowalski explained that trappers must complete mandatory training and be licensed before qualifying to trap in Ontario. When trapping coyotes, they are required to use only traps that are permitted under the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards (AIHTS). 
"Canada is signatory to the AIHTS that requires the use of traps that meet humane trapping standards," she explained. "Trappers in Ontario who trap in defence of property, as well as for the commercial fur trade, must comply with these standards and meet any other conditions of authorization."
She said policies and management options are in place under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 (FWCA) that allow municipalities to take action with respect to protection of property related to coyote conflicts in their municipality.
"As a landowner, in general, they or their agent(s) may capture, kill, or harass certain species of problem wildlife, including coyotes, to prevent damage to their property at any time," Kowalski said. "They may also invite a licensed hunter or trapper on their land to hunt or trap coyotes on their property during the open season."
In addition, she said, a municipality may wish to compensate hunters or trappers for removing coyotes that are damaging livestock on land other than municipal property.  "The municipality and individuals hired by the municipality require authorization under Section 11 of the FWCA, and the municipality works with MNR to facilitate this process," she stated. "The purpose of this authorization is to target the animals causing the problem, and not the general coyote population over a large area."
Kowalski said homeowners can take steps to ensure coyotes aren't attracted to their property and to keep their pets safe.
"Coyotes are usually wary of humans and tend to avoid people," she noted. "But coyotes have adapted well to urban environments and can now be found in both rural and urban settings."
She said people should "never" feed coyotes or try to tame them. If you come across a coyote, don't turn your back or run, simply back away from the animal and try to remain calm.
Make sure garbage is properly stored and keep all pets on leashes or confined to a yard. If the coyote poses an immediate threat or danger to public safety, you are encouraged to call 911.