Coyote attacks in Stanley Park spur closure of trails near Brockton Oval

Trail runner, the coyote's after you. Trail runner, if he catches you you're ... well, a dozen people have had to be treated recently following aggressive coyote attacks in Stanley Park.

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service has had reports of 12 aggressive coyote attacks that resulted in punctured skin, on top of daily reports of coyotes nipping heels, chasing runners, or approaching people hoping to get fed.

And unlike the hapless but immortal coyote in the Road Runner cartoon, two Stanley Park coyotes matching descriptions of biters were put down last week. The park board took the Conservation Officer Service's “strong recommendation” to close trails near Brockton Oval, where the attacks took place.

“I think there's confusion with the term `nipping,'” said Simon Gravel, a sergeant with the conservation office. “We're talking real bites that caused blood, that punctured the skin. That's what triggered our response.

“We're not responding to coyotes running after people, or nipping, or seeking food. We respond to people who were injured in an attack.”

Coyotes thrive all over the Lower Mainland, but especially in the huge green spaces that are Stanley Park and the UBC Endowment Lands.

Aggressive behaviour is often the result of animals being fed by people, and the park board tweeted a warning for people not to approach or feed coyotes.

“One of our findings in Stanley Park is many people came to us and testified they witnessed people feeding coyotes on a regular basis,” Gravel said. “That's very alarming, there's obviously a lack of awareness.

“I don't think anyone means to cause harm to those animals, but when you feed a coyote or a bear or a cougar or a wolf, you eventually do cause harm to that animal, and you do harm to public safety of others.”

Instead, report coyote sightings online or phone 311. If a coyote shows aggression toward people or is lying completely immobile because of injury, call a conservation officer at 1-877-952-7277.

If a coyote is chasing you, stop and try to intimidate it, Gravel said. “We say make yourself big, be brave. Yell at the coyote, don't let them approach you ... if you can, throw a rock or stick at the coyote. The coyote will usually disengage.”