2 people arrested for allegedly feeding Stanley Park coyotes on day of reopening
Two people were allegedly caught feeding coyotes in Vancouver's Stanley Park on Tuesday, shortly after the popular destination was fully reopened to the public.
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service said the individuals, who have been identified only as residents of the province's Lower Mainland, were arrested and their vehicle was seized.
Access to Stanley Park had been limited for weeks following a series of coyote attacks on adults and children. Some trails were blocked, and the park was closed at night.
Tuesday also marked the end of a province-led coyote cull in the park. At one point, representatives from the Ministry of Forests said it was possible as many as 35 coyotes would be trapped and euthanized by contractors.
The ministry said other options had been explored first, but coyotes are territorial, and the Stanley Park population appeared so habituated to humans that re-location was impossible.
It hoped the cull would be a reset, making way for sustainable co-existence between humans and coyotes, and an education program would follow.
In the end, just four coyotes were trapped and killed as part of the two-week cull, all in the first few days. Seven others were killed before the cull began.
The Vancouver Park Board said Tuesday it was removing the fencing and signage related to the cull, but still advised caution. It said park rangers would be patrolling the park, watching the behaviour of both the coyotes and humans.
It also asked anyone who witnesses an attack or negative encounter, or sees a person feeding a coyote, to report it to the BCCOS immediately.
Conservation officers did not say Wednesday whether such a tip led to the arrests the day before.
"The feeding of dangerous wildlife is a violation of the Wildlife Act," BCCOS said in a statement posted on its Facebook page about the arrests.
"Feeding wildlife lowers an animal's natural fear of humans and often results in injury. It is when people engage in this type of reckless behaviour that coyotes become aggressive, resulting in multiple reports of attacks on people."
The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information related to Tuesday's arrests or any other illegal feeding is asked to contact the service through its tip line at 1-877-952-7277.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Woman, 18, killed by co-worker's vehicle on Highway 1 in Moose Jaw
Moose Jaw police say an 18-year-old woman who was at work has died from injuries she sustained in a collision with a vehicle being driven by her co-worker last Thursday.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
MPs to vote on NDP motion calling on Canada to recognize Palestinian statehood
Members of Parliament will vote Monday on a motion from the federal New Democrats, calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine,' among a range of other calls to action in regards to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.