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
Man arrested after allegedly caught trespassing at Drake's Bridle Path mansion
Toronto police say a man has been taken into custody after he was allegedly caught trespassing at Drake's mansion in Bridle Path Saturday afternoon.
Wildfire that forced evacuation of Fort Nelson, B.C., caused by tree falling on wires, mayor says
The wildfire that prompted the evacuation of more than 3,000 people near Fort Nelson, B.C., was caused by a tree falling on wires, according to the municipality's mayor.
Eurovision Song Contest final kicks off after protests, backstage chaos and a contestant's expulsion
The 68th Eurovision Song Contest finally got down to musical business Saturday in the Swedish city of Malmo after days of protests and offstage drama that have tipped the feelgood musical celebration into a chaotic pressure cooker overshadowed by the war in Gaza.
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with Maple Leafs, dead at 79
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a member of Canada's team at the 1972 Summit Series, has died at age 79.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.