Visitors in Stanley Park have been illegally feeding a resident coyote for months, and ecologists warn the animal could end up killed if they don’t cut it out soon.
The Stanley Park Ecology Society said coyotes are normally very timid, but regular feedings have already left one living near Lost Lagoon “very comfortable” hanging around humans.
“We’ve had a number of reports that this coyote’s been fed by people and that changes its behaviour,” wildlife coordinator Dan Straker said. “That explains why it’s out in the daytime all the time.”
If the coyote gets too comfortable around people, it could get also aggressive and bite someone. If that happens, officials may choose to destroy it.
Straker said the feeders probably think they’re doing the coyote a favour without realizing there are plenty of rodents around for the animal to eat.
“They do an amazing job at pest control and they don’t need any extra food,” he said.
Urban wildlife photographer Bruce Causier has videotaped people leaving out food for wild animals, which is illegal under Vancouver park bylaws as well as the B.C. Wildlife Act.
“I think people are treating it like a community pet, kind of like a dog. It will lie down and people will walk right up to it,” he said.
Ecologists are urging park-goers to take a different approach, and do their best to frighten the coyote off if they see it.
Straker said if people put their arms over their heads and yell, “Go away, coyote!” they can scare the animal and discourage it from spending time near people.
Dog-walkers can also shake a pop can filled with a few pennies or pebbles to shoo coyotes away.
Anyone who sees someone feeding a coyote is asked to call the Stanley Park Ecology Society at 604-681-WILD. Coyotes acting aggressively can be reported to the Ministry of Environment at 1-877-952-7277.
With a report from CTV Vancouver’s Shannon Paterson
