Four coyotes euthanized after Stanley Park attacks

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Four coyotes have been put down after a string of attacks in Vancouver’s Stanley Park.

The latest attack sent a two-year-old girl to the hospital on Monday. In the days since, the west side of the popular park was shut down as conservation officers searched for several animals.

On Thursday, the B.C. Conservation Officer Service confirmed four coyotes were found and euthanized between Wednesday night and Thursday morning. One of the animals was “captured in very close proximity to the site of the recent attack.”

“We’re confident, after assessment, that those coyotes were involved in some sort of aggression towards humans,” said Sgt. Simon Gravel with the BC Conservation Officer Service.

He says there may be more aggressive coyotes at the park.

“Two more, maybe more,” Gravel said. “We had some very good information that make us believe up to six coyotes were involved in some level of aggression towards humans. Possibly, there’s more. We don’t know, at this point.”

Gravel says “removing” coyotes from parks is a “last resort.”

“It’s something we do in a very, very special situation, where the public’s safety is really compromised. We had over 30 people that got attacked. Things escalated the last few weeks, where we had multiple attacks in one day. Now, a two-year-old. It became very, very critical,” he said.

Gravel says he spoke with the girl’s father on Wednesday.

“She’s smiling. She has a good spirit. We wish her very well,” he said.

Conservation officers say they will continue to monitor the situation in Stanley Park, adding the euthanized coyotes will be taken to the Abbotsford Animal Health Lab for analysis.

“Efforts are continuing with park rangers, area organizations, the municipality and wildlife biologists to further address and reduce coyote conflicts,” the service said on Facebook.

Despite coyote attacks, many Vancouverites unafraid while others worry

There have been dozens of encounters with coyotes, many of which have resulted in injury to humans, over the past several months.

Despite trails on the west side of Stanley Park being closed this week as officers searched for the animals, many people have said they’re not afraid. A number of people didn’t even know the closures were in place Thursday.

“Nothing’s changed in the park, it’s just the public outcry has changed,” said one man, adding he’s never been attacked by a coyote in the popular park, but has heard of attacks and close encounters.

As someone who frequents the park with his dog, he says he supports euthanizing the animals if they pose a threat to people.

“I’m not an expert in the matter, but if wild animals are attacking humans, my understanding is that they need to be put down,” the man added.

The West side of Stanley Park is closed at the moment (marked red on map) as conservation officers are working in the area to locate the aggressive coyotes in the area. @VancouverPD pic.twitter.com/Sd2fn5SP2P

— VPD Mounted Unit (@VPDHorses) July 14, 2021

Conservation officers have been scouring the park in search of aggressive coyotes this week. They confirmed they were looking for several animals, adding it’s possible a small group of the coyotes were suffering from a “pathology” or have become too habituated to humans. However, they said there are “a lot of potential contributing factors, and a lot of unknowns still at this point.”

In addition to the four euthanized this week, two other coyotes were previously found at Stanley Park and put down. That happened in January.

.@_BCCOS officers at Stanley Park this morning. Service says it’s looking for ~6 coyotes involved in aggressive attacks to “remove” them. “Population control” is on the table but service says end goal is balancing conservation of coyotes + public safety. @NEWS1130 @CityNewsVAN pic.twitter.com/A3w5dWAOuS

— Monika Gul (@MonikaGul) July 15, 2021

Jackie Birchall is among those who aren’t worried about their personal safety, even though there has been a string of attacks in recent months.

“I walk in the trails and I almost daily meet coyotes and they’re always very shy, ghost-like, disappear into the bushes as soon as they see me,” she explained.

“I think it’s very sad that the coyotes that are peaceful dwellers are going to be killed. I know it’s difficult for the conservation guys, but I think it’s very sad.”

James Thompson says he’s seen coyotes in the park, describing one as “larger than a cat” that was following closely behind him.

While it did concern him, Thompson says he hasn’t been deterred from visiting the park.

“It doesn’t surprise me,” he said of the trail closure, adding “I’m not that worried.”

Lonnie Santrock, who says he’s been using the Stanley Park trails for the past 16 years, admits he’s seen more coyotes in recent years.

“It doesn’t [worry me], because when I do see them I roar, and I get big, and just make a lot of noise. So I’ve never had one ever even approach me,” he explained.

Concerns still remain for many

And while many say they aren’t worried about potentially aggressive animals, conservation officers have said, “If you choose to use the park, it would be at your own risk.”

Many families are also anxious about the increase in attacks.

Sonia Sidhu, co-host of the KiSS Radio morning show, lives in the Coal Harbour area and says Stanley Park is like her family’s backyard.

The #BCCOS is investigating after a girl, 2, was attacked by a coyote in #StanleyPark last night.
COs will be patrolling the park and will continue to have a presence over the next several days to help ensure public safety: https://t.co/IaRAH6x0sC@ParkBoard @StanleyParkEco

— BC CO Service (@_BCCOS) July 14, 2021

However, recent events have forced her and husband to change their routines.

“Usually we would go and go for a walk in the park and we’d probably spend more time at Stanley Park proper, but now we’ve just kind of stayed in the Coal Harbour neighbourhood or made the trip out to English Bay and done the Second Beach area,” she said.

“We have a small daughter who’s a year and a half, and hearing about the two-year-old being attacked definitely makes a lot of us parents in the neighbourhood very nervous as well.”

Related articles: 

• ‘Use the park at your own risk’: Half of Stanley Park closed due to coyote attacks

• 2-year-old attacked by coyote in Stanley Park

• Three people bitten by ‘aggressive’ coyote in Stanley Park

She says she’s heard from many other parents about their concerns, especially given the attack on Monday.

Others have also told NEWS 1130 they feel coyotes have become more acclimated of late.

“We see them in our parking lot quite often and they definitely, over the course of the last couple of months, have become a lot less afraid of people. So yeah, it’s definitely something kind of in the back of your mind, especially in the evening time, it’s something you definitely need to watch out for,” Rachel, who works at the aquarium, told NEWS 1130 on Wednesday.

“In the parking lot, they do get quite close. Luckily, you can park quite close to the main building and you can just kind of go in and out. But when you see how big they are, and they really aren’t afraid of people anymore, it definitely is a little worrisome.”

-With files from Lisa Steacy, Mike Lloyd, and Tamara Slobogean