Who Cares About Snakes and Coyotes?
One of these is not like the other
Coyotes and snakes are part of the urban wildlife at the Leslie Street Spit. While both are vertebrates, they are far apart in looks and the responses they elicit in people. Coyotes look like a large dog and thus probably feel familiar and predictable to people. Snakes either go unnoticed quietly basking, or when seen, can evoke a strong fear in some people. The rubble that constitutes the Spit provides excellent habitat for the six species of harmless-to-humans snakes. Snakes are most vulnerable when basking on the roads and paths at the Spit and they are commonly run over by cyclists. Coyotes are more elusive, unless it’s the time of year where the parents are protecting their young pups; or when the annual brood of youngsters start exploring their home. While coyotes are not at risk of being run over at the Spit, they do risk becoming too habituated if people feed them and are regularly subject to mange. So please don’t feed the coyotes, they have plenty to eat at the Spit; like a snake should they come across one.