Stanley Park coyotes protect pups, users urged to be cautious

With spring a few weeks away, there are reminders that with the rebirth of the season, comes some risk of human-wildlife conflicts in Stanley Park.

While coyote pups are adorable, the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation cautions to give them their space, not to feed them (or any wildlife), and to keep pets on a leash in the park.

“In Vancouver, coyotes begin breeding in January, with litters of pups born in spring. During this time, coyotes are more active as they establish and protect their dens, and seek additional food for their young,” a statement from the board reads.

“Typically only seen at dusk and dawn, they will often be spotted in the daytime and will behave more boldly to ensure their families are kept safe. This could look like ‘escorting’ humans and pets away from their dens; and standing their ground or acting more defensively if they perceive a threat.”

Learning from last year

It comes after 45 attacks were reported over a 10 month period in the park. Some of the attacks were on children, and injuries varied from mild to serious.

The attacks stopped in September after curfews and closures were placed on the park, and 11 animals were euthanized.

There was fierce criticism of the Park Board over inaction to the attacks, and confusion took centre stage over questions of enforcement and jurisdiction between the board and the province.

“We have seen no bites since the removal event in the fall of last year, and we hope to keep it that way by putting in place a number of steps that we plan to take and have begun taking,” said Dana McDonald, Environmental Stewardship Coordinator.

That includes getting rid of garbage on the ground, securing waste bins, educating the public on what to do when they encounter a coyote, and enforcing the ban on feeding wildlife.

At a meeting Tuesday night, the board a report from McDonald, as well as the director of parks Amit Gandha detailing the takeaways from last year. There were several factors being blamed on the surge in wildlife conflicts, and the board heard indirect feeding was among them.

Photos of bird seed placed beside benches fed the coyotes indirectly, by increasing coyote prey populations.

In turn, it has a negative consequence on coyotes.

McDonald also believes there were more people using the park during the pandemic, as well as a gap in wildlife education.

“Our park rangers did issue one ticket to an individual, there was tickets issued prior to the work with the Conservation Office. The park rangers, within the bylaw, do have the ability to issue tickets,” Gandha said.

More park rangers being added

In preparedness for the worst possible outcome, the board says it will be working with the Conservation Office and will be enhancing park rangers.

“Right now we are planning to have two to four rangers doing wildlife patrol at Stanley Park…seven days a week,” he said.

“We are working much more closely with the provincial government, including the Conservation Office on these issues to ensure rapid action can be taken if any aggressive behaviours is noticed in the park,” McDonald said.

There will be more wildlife-proof garbage bins placed in the weeks ahead. There is a goal to make all future “totes” wildlife proof in the par and more permanent signs will be put up warning the public of the $500 fine for wildlife feeding.

Animal law lawyer Rebeka Breder says the key thing will be to enforce bylaws and to issue fines immediately. She never wanted to see the coyotes killed at Stanley Park last year. She wanted to see the feeding fine increased to the maximum allowed by law: $2,000.

“We need strong measures in order to prevent this massacre from happening again,” said Rebeka Breder.

To report human-wildlife conflicts, or illegal activity – you can call the provincial RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.