Protesters hold vigil for Stanley Park coyotes, demand end to cull
A small group of protesters held a vigil for Stanley Park coyotes Wednesday while calling for an end to the B.C. government's culling effort.
The group gathered outside the Vancouver Park Board office sporting traps, signs and a megaphone, slamming officials for failing to adequately address the alarming series of coyote attacks on park visitors that began late last year.
"It shouldn't have gotten to this point," said protester Sarah Blyth. "They should have shut down the park and let the experts in to figure out what was going on."
Instead, the Ministry of Forests sent in contractors last week to trap and kill as many coyotes as possible. As of Tuesday, four of the animals had been euthanized during the culling effort, which is expected to last another week.
Conservation officers previously killed six Stanley Park coyotes hoping to curb the number of conflicts, but the attacks persisted.
Blyth, who used to chair the Vancouver Park Board, said commissioners have a responsibility to manage Stanley Park, and that they failed to address the root of the problem as it continued for months.
The prevailing theory of what prompted the attacks is that the animals were fed by park visitors, or otherwise became habituated to humans.
"It's a really sad situation," said Blyth. "I think people should really feel ashamed that this has happened."
There have been dozens of attacks reported in the park, including five that injured children. Blyth called those incidents "terrible," but criticized officials for prioritizing keeping the park open over a longer disruption that might have prevented the need for a cull.
The Ministry of Forests has said the decision to kill the coyotes was not taken lightly, and only came after "considerable effort into finding other alternatives."
"Given the habituated nature of these coyotes, relocation is not an option," the ministry said in a statement Tuesday. "As well, coyotes are highly territorial and would be in direct conflict with whatever local population they were introduced to."
In response to Wednesday's vigil, the Vancouver Park Board issued a statement supporting the B.C. government's decision, calling the circumstances leading up to the cull and the public safety risk posed by the coyotes "extraordinary."
"No one involved in this last resort response wanted to see the lethal removal of animals from the park," it said.
"The park board will continue to manage trial closures for as long as required, install wildlife-proof bins to encourage correct disposal of garbage, post additional signage and educate the public on the importance of not feeding animals in an effort to achieve long-term co-existence with wildlife within the park and avoid this situation from ever arising again."
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Regan Hasegawa
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.