Urban coyotes have been in the news a lot lately, most recently this past weekend when conservation officers had to PUT DOWN one near False Creek that was acting aggressively.
Photo courtesy Stanley Park Ecology Society
The Stanley Park Ecology Society runs something called Co-Existing with Coyotes and they offer these three simple tips for us to best interact (or not!) with these beasts that also call Vancouver home:
- Be Big, Brave, and Loud – if you see a coyote scare it, it is the most effective way to keep people, pets and coyotes safe.
- Never Feed – human food is not healthy for coyotes but like any dog, they will eat what you give to them. Deliberate feeding is the sole cause of aggressive behaviour which is why it is illegal under the provincial wildlife act to attract coyotes, if you see someone feeding a coyote please report it.
- Spread the Word – tell your neighbours about co-existing, put up POSTERS in your neighbourhood, and REPORT your coyote sightings.
When you report your sighting using THIS ONLINE FORM it'll be added to the map that they release every month. HERE is the most current one. Have a click around to see where they've been spotted in the past month!
h/t to Jeff Lee
