Coyote Watch Canada joins national coalition of leading animal protection and environmental organizations in calling on Health Canada to immediately reverse its March 30 decision authorizing "emergency" use of strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan to kill Richardson's ground squirrels.
In a shocking decision made on March 30th, Health Canada reversed its previous ban on the notoriously cruel poison strychnine, granting Alberta and Saskatchewan emergency use permits to kill ground squirrels until November 2027. In response, a coalition of environmental and animal welfare groups across the country is denouncing the reckless decision and calling on Health Canada to uphold the science-based strychnine ban.
There’s also a broader issue with how stories like this are told. Repeating the idea that wolves “lure” pets can unintentionally reinforce fear-based narratives, portraying wildlife as deceptive or malicious. That framing doesn’t just oversimplify complex animal behaviour; it can also undermine public support for coexistence and conservation.
To celebrate National Coyote Day — March 23, 2026, we are honoured to feature "Coyote Dance" by Gabrielle Leiher, a vibrant mixed-media work, alongside Wendy Brown’s "Into the Light", alcohol ink on Yupo piece and James Beaton’s story "From Winter Bonds to Spring Beginnings". Together, they offer unique artistic reflections that deepen appreciation for coyotes and the wild world we share.
For our final Celebrating Coyotes Week feature, we thoughtfully share a meaningful dedication of a beautiful coyote illustration given as a gift to a friend. We are thankful for the opportunity to honour the artist’s legacy, the friendship behind this piece, and the shared appreciation for coyotes that connects us. Submitted by a friend.
As part of our Celebrating Coyotes Week tribute, we share how one encounter can open the door to nature literacy. In “Something Greater,” Robert Hoare reflects on how meeting a coyote led to months of observation, creativity, and respect. This blend of music, visual storytelling, and the striking Eastern coyote photo of “One Paw” moves us into nature without boundaries and invites us to see the wild with curiosity, humility, and wonder.
"Running To Love" is an original acrylic painting on wood panel (24" x 34") by gifted artist Elizabeth Starr, whose work beautifully reflects the energy, devotion, and strong family bonds of coyotes. Through this piece, Starr brings together strength and tenderness, offering a powerful reminder that wildlife families live deeply connected lives filled with protection, companionship, and trust.
"Look into my eyes and remember: Wildness was never the opposite of you, only a different way of belonging. Walk gently. We are neighbors. We always were." Excerpt from "My name is Coyote" by Mark Lukas
Today's installation brings together a photograph, personal account, and poem by Kim Schizas that highlight the realities of living alongside coyotes. From family bonds to navigating human-altered landscapes, these reflections remind us that coexistence is built on understanding, respect, and awareness.
Like a sentinel, the other sat observing the people and dogs walking by, ensuring that trouble wasn’t approaching. Nobody else noticed them. I could only see them because I watched them walk to that spot. Later that year, they moved from the park and I still think of them frequently. Excerpt from "Sentinels of the Urban Wild" a reflection by longtime Volunteer.
