Two people bitten by coyote in Stanley Park

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Two people who were reportedly “having a picnic” in the early hours of Monday were bitten by a coyote at Stanley Park, and conservation officers are continuing to urge people to avoid the area amid a rash of these attacks.

The pair was in the south end of the park around 1:30 a.m. when they encountered the animal.

“A coyote approached and bit the woman on the leg. The friend was then also bitten on the leg,” says a Facebook post from the BC Conservation Officer Service, noting they did not receive a report of the incident right away.

“[We] continue to strongly urge the public to stay out of Stanley Park. If you are in the park use abundant caution, as there is a high risk of encountering an aggressive coyote – particularly during dawn or dusk hours, when coyotes tend to be more active.”

This incident comes after a number of others this summer, including several in which young children were bitten. The BC Conservation Officer Service says there have been more than 30 attacks at Stanley Park in the past several months.

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Concerns forced the Vancouver Park Board to close trails along the west side of the park in July and again earlier this month.

Conservation officers urge people to report aggressive coyote encounters to 1-877-952-7277 as soon as possible.

Tips on how to handle a coyote encounter include shouting, waving one’s arms, and throwing things at the animal. Running, or turning one’s back on a coyote is never a good idea.