Coyotes kill more livestock every year in Ontario than any other predator.
Farmers Forum staff
OTTAWA — Coyotes continue to be the predator kings of Ontario and sheep are their favourite prey.
In 2024, Ontario farmers lost 2,537 animals to wildlife predators — mostly coyotes — and collected over $1.5 million from the province from the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation program.
The death count is up 47 % from 1,724 in 2023. Last year saw the highest kill numbers seen this decade.
By head count, sheep accounted for the most losses as 934 were killed by predators in Ontario last year. A total of 579 cattle were killed followed by 543 chickens.
Coyotes were the biggest killers, inflicting losses valued at over $1.2 million. The wily canine species whacked 816 sheep, 495 cattle, 97 turkeys, 77 chickens, 26 ducks, 18 goats, 6 deer, 6 horses, 2 bison, a donkey, and an emu (killed in Leeds & Grenville).
Although lower on the killer list, bears killed 39 cattle last year and cougars killed 10 sheep. That’s the second highest death count recorded by cougars since they were added to the list of predators covered by the compensation.
Eight Eastern Ontario counties were among the 10 highest compensated counties for predator kills in the province last year. Durham County topped the provincial list, with farmers receiving $164,207 for predator losses. Here’s a list of the top 10 predator-infested counties, the livestock lost and how much farmers in each county received in compensation.
