A recent study warns of potential health risks to humans and animals when homeless individuals seek refuge in the same urban areas as coyotes. Published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, the study focused on homeless encampments in Edmonton’s river valley and their proximity to urban coyotes.
The research, led by the University of Alberta as part of the Edmonton Urban Coyote Project, revealed that homeless individuals and coyotes often share living spaces, leading to competition for resources and increased risks of human-coyote conflicts and disease transmission.
Lead author Sage Raymond described the situation as detrimental for both species, with coyotes accessing food in encampments and homeless individuals being exposed to disease agents. This scenario is not unique to Edmonton but likely occurs in other North American cities facing similar challenges of poverty and urban wildlife interactions.
The study highlighted the heightened danger faced by individuals sleeping near coyote dens, increasing the likelihood of dangerous encounters and disease transmission. Moreover, coyotes living near encampments may become aggressive and pose a nuisance to nearby neighborhoods.
The study emphasized the need for targeted conservation efforts, awareness campaigns, and improved healthcare access for vulnerable populations rather than crackdowns on homelessness or coyote culls. The Edmonton Urban Coyote Project, with over 15 years of research, estimates up to 3,000 coyotes in Edmonton, with many relying on the river valley for habitat, where homeless encampments are also prevalent.
Wildlife biologist Colleen Cassady St. Clair, leading the coyote research project, noted the overlap between coyotes and homeless encampments during fieldwork, observing coyotes feeding on garbage near encampments. The study highlighted concerns about diseases carried by coyotes, such as alveolar echinococcosis, which poses severe health risks to homeless individuals living in close proximity to coyotes.
Experts, including biologist Darcy Visscher, emphasized the high fatality rate of the infection in humans and the need for increased awareness and outreach efforts. The study called for healthcare programs, hygiene supplies for encampments, and education on safe practices to deter coyotes from human interactions.
While the study aims to raise awareness of the vulnerable homeless population’s heightened risks, experts stress the importance of addressing the root causes of homelessness to prevent such health hazards in the future. Officials in Alberta are working to support vulnerable populations and connect them with housing and essential services to mitigate the risks associated with encampments.
