Denning coyotes prompt green space closure
Responding to reports of aggressive behaviour from denning coyotes toward humans, the City of Calgary is closing an entire green space in Panorama Hills.
The closure includes the slope and pathway between Country Hills Blvd. N.W. and Hidden Creek Blvd. N.W.
Doug Frizzell, superintendent of operations with City of Calgary community standards, said safety concerns have been brought up about the behaviour of adult coyotes near a den in the area.
“Partial pathway closures haven’t been successful, so Parks has decided to close the entire park and we’re there with community standards officers to assist in getting the education out there,” Frizzell said.
Tanya Hope, parks ecologist with the City of Calgary, said the coyotes are being very protective because they have pups in the den.
“They may push you out of the area, they may bark, they may howl, they may run at you, they may try to nip you,” she said.
“And what we’re noticing with these coyotes is that they are getting more aggressive and there have been instances where contact has been made.”
Calgarian Gordon Pearse was recently walking on the Panorama Hills path with his daughter’s dog, Chewie, when a coyote killed the four-pound dog.
Frizzell said coyotes can be “extremely protective” at this time of year, potentially chasing and nipping at people.
“As well, they have gone out after small animals, cats and dogs, for food,” he said.
The city wants people to be aware of potential denning coyotes as they are walking or cycling on local pathways, Hope said. If you encounter a coyote, she advises not to turn and run, but to make eye contact, back away slowly, make yourself as big as you can and leave the area.
“We encourage people with small dogs to maybe keep them closer to home and in residential areas,” Hope said.
Residents who live along a major green space should be particularly aware that coyotes could be denning in the area, she added.
Information on pathway closures is available at calgary.ca/pathwayclosures.