Lesley Sampson
Lesley's research and practice center on canid behavior and nonlethal coexistence methodologies. She is consulted across North America and abroad, facilitating human–wildlife conflict resolution, policy development, first response training, and humane community outreach.
Her passion for teaching At-Risk and School to Work youth was celebrated in the mentorship programs that Lesley spearheaded for Student Literacy. She has received many awards recognizing her community and environmental initiatives along with her commitment to volunteerism throughout her career.
In 1997/98, while conducting her thesis involving the observation/movement analysis of canid pack behaviour, Lesley founded the Creekpark Coyote Education and Research Project to advocate coexistence between people and coyotes. Her project combined community education and sighting information methodology with a focus on investigating and preventing human-coyote conflicts. For nearly a decade, Lesley provided her expertise as a volunteer liaison conducting following up visits with residents and investigating coyote calls through the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (MNDMNRF)
As the co-founder of the not-for-profit organization in 2008, Coyote Watch Canada (CWC), Lesley facilitates a community science-based education model that emphasizes and fosters compassionate wildlife coexistence. CWC offers a 24-hour hotline that provides front-line community and coyote support. In 2010, CWC joined in partnership with the City of Niagara Falls to implement PAWS Program: Preservation, Awareness, Wildlife Safety.
Coyote sightings are mapped, and territory trends are tracked in conjunction with population dispersal patterns. Locations, where people have historically fed coyotes, are identified and monitored by the Canid Response Team and Community Outreach and Education representatives.
Through a successful partnership with the City of Niagara Falls, the very first feeding wildlife by-law for Eastern Canada was passed in April 2011. In May 2011, Lesley was awarded a film contract with Antas Productions as a field consultant for an educational documentary about the life cycle of coyotes. She is recognized by the City of Niagara Falls for her enthusiastic efforts to preserve and protect wildlife and for her public education promoting living in harmony with coyotes.
Lesley's work on behalf of canids spans over three decades. Her extensive fieldwork experience has included collaborations with both scientific and government agencies, working with the Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (MNDMNRF), local governments, community scientists, and researchers from Queen’s, Manitoba, Toronto, and Guelph Universities.
