Stanley Park coyotes preying on people, says wildlife officer

Recent coyote attacks on humans resemble what the animal would do if it was hungry and going after prey such as deer, a provincial wildlife conservation officer says.

Sgt. Simon Gravel said there have been 15 aggressive attacks by coyotes on park users, mostly runners, since Dec. 1, 2020. Of those, 13 people have been bitten seriously enough that to describe them as “nipping ” diminishes their severity. In two cases, people on bikes were attacked.

“What I can tell you, that type of attack — meaning a coyote coming out of nowhere, running fast toward a jogger and biting them on the leg — it is the same thing they would do to prey like a deer,” he said. “It's the same mechanics involved. It makes me believe that it is somehow predatory and not defensive.”

Gravel is a conservation officer responsible for the Sea to Sky zone from Pemberton to Vancouver, including Stanley Park.

Joggers have been bitten at dawn and dusk on the seawall near Brockton Oval and farther northwest toward the Lions Gate Bridge. The attacks have also taken place on the trails near the Hollow Tree. There are also several reports of encounters with people walking. In those cases, coyotes have been aggressive to the point where they're difficult to scare away but haven't attacked. He said conservation officials are encouraging people to avoid running in the park: “If you choose to use the trails, be aware you're likely to encounter a coyote that can approach you.”

Gravel said he doesn't know for certain what's changed the animals' behaviour. Coyotes, he said, lose fear of humans for several reasons, including associating humans with a food source by deliberate feeding. Coyotes can also become habituated to humans by seeing people leaving food for birds.

Coyotes in the park, he said, now have so “little fear of humans that they consider humans as a source of food.”

“That's what we're dealing with in Stanley Park: A complete indifference to humans and no fear of humans.”

He said no one knows for sure how many coyotes are in the 405-hectare (1,000-acre) park. Estimates vary between six and 12; two have already been euthanized for aggressive behaviour.

In the most recent report of an attack, a coyote bit a runner in the calf about 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 17, near the four-kilometre mark on the seawall southeast of the Lions Gate.

While food waste left by people living in the park may be contributing to the problem, the change in the animal's behaviour is one that's been learned over a long period.

“I can tell you that we have received many reports and allegations of park users feeding wildlife in the past few months,” he said. “That's what makes us believe that it's a strong contributing factor to the situation in Stanley Park right now.”

Under the Wildlife Act, people feeding wild animals face a maximum fine of $50,000. He said conservation officers can write a $345 violation ticket on the spot if they catch someone feeding wildlife.

Anyone who sees aggressive coyotes or anyone feeding wildlife in the park can phone 1-877-9527277, which can be reached 24/7.