Mike W. Bryant
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jan 18/06) - Wildlife officers have yet to get their canine a month after traps were set at the Yellowknife Airport to capture and kill nuisance coyotes.

Senior wildlife officer Raymond Bourget said his department recently re-set some of the traps along a snowmobile route that coyotes have used to get onto the runway.

"Now we're setting the traps right on the snowmobile trail itself because coyotes are walking on it," said Bourget.

"Some of the snares have also been moved into a willow area to make it a little harder to see the snares."

The department is using two types of traps: a padded leghold trap, and wire snares. Bourget said the snowmobile trail in question is on airport property and off-limits to snowmachines.

He wasn't sure how many traps have been set. None of them are baited.

"We're staying away from baits," said Bourget.

"That way if people happen to be walking their dogs around the perimeter of the fence, the dog doesn't smell the bait and go running onto the property."

The traps aren't designed to kill, but to hold the animal until wildlife officers can locate it. They will then be destroyed, and their pelts either used for trapper-training courses or given to trappers to sell on the fur market.

Airport officials requested the traps after reporting 10 near misses with aircraft and coyotes over a six-month period last year.

Bob Kelly, communications manager with the department of Transportation, said they don't want eliminate the coyotes, just bring their numbers down to a "safer level."

The department estimates about a dozen coyotes frequent the airport. He said there haven't been any near misses lately, adding that coyote activity at the airport has been minimal. A memo to air carriers and other tenants at the airport was sent out after officials learned that some may be feeding them.

"The manager of airport safety sent out a message reminding tenants that it's not an acceptable practice to do anything that would encourage animals to come onto the airport property," said Kelly.