Coyote in Stanley Park bites two joggers near Third Beach

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Two joggers in Stanley Park were bitten on the ankles by coyotes Thursday morning, prompting a warning from conservation officers.

The first person encountered the animal near Third Beach — one on the sidewalk on Stanley Park  Drive around 8 a.m, the other on the Seawall around 10 a.m.

Conservation Officer Erich Harbich says they were called to the park after the second attack, and found a woman with minor injuries.

“The victim was treated for some superficial wounds, just minor breakage of the skin that just required some sanitation to prevent infection and a small bandage,”: he explains.

But there was no sign of the coyote.

“There was no imminent public safety threat. After a quick patrol and assessment of the situation, we withdrew at that point and went back to more of a reactionary report-based approach again.”

A woman suffered minor injuries after she was bitten by a coyote while running along the #StanleyPark seawall shortly after 10 a.m.
COs immediately responded – more info here: https://t.co/4IU62Rvrax@StanleyParkEco @ParkBoard #BCCOS pic.twitter.com/fhig7GXiG4

— BC CO Service (@_BCCOS) May 13, 2021

The person who was chased at 8 a.m. reported later in the day, and conservation officers say it’s likely — although not certain — the same animal was responsible for both.

“That’s just based on the location and the similarity of the circumstances, they’re just kind of described the same way as well, as kind of tan-coloured coyotes,” he explains.

“Obviously, with coyotes being very similar in appearance to one another, it’s not 100 per cent confirmation of course but, the evidence suggests that it might have been the same coyote.”

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Harbich says dawn and dusk are the riskiest times to be in the park, adding that is when they get the most reports about encounters with wildlife.

Ultimately, he says they haven’t been able to figure out what has prompted a rash of coyote attacks in Stanley park this year.

“It’s likely a variety of variables at play here,” he says.

“If we’re in any kind of park environment, we always want to be as well educated as we can, and very cognizant of our surroundings, and just aware of the wildlife that we share the park with.”

He encourages anyone who encounters wildlife to report it to conservation officers by calling 1-877-952-7277.