Co-Existing with Coyotes Press Releases

Press Release: A Response to the fatal Nova Scotia Coyote Attack

Co-Existing with Coyotes, Vancouver, BC, October 28, 2009

Stanley Park Ecology Society's Co-Existing with Coyotes (CwC) Program aims to reduce conflict between people, pets, and coyotes by providing accessible information through a wide range of media.  The CwC Program wishes to acknowledge the recent and unfortunate incident in Cape Breton whereby a coyote attack resulted in the fatality of one Taylor Mitchell, aged 19 years.

Although the attack is still being investigated by Nova Scotia authorities, the CwC wishes to note that the coyotes (Canis latrans) involved in the incident were displaying very abnormal behaviour, and that, statistically, attacks on people are extremely rare.  There is also a significant difference in physical characteristics between the eastern and western coyotes.  Eastern coyotes typically weigh 35-50 lbs whereas the western coyotes range between 25-35 lbs.

Phil Dubrulle is the Co-Existing with Coyotes Coordinator at the Stanley Park Ecology Society.  He says, "In BC, attacks on people most often stem from coyotes being fed by people.  This often results in the rapid conditioning of coyotes therefore habituating them to people as well as creating an expectation that all people will feed them."  He adds, "In the rare instance that there has been an attack, the resulting injuries have been superficial and non-life threatening.  We are not aware of any prior attack that has led to a fatality by coyotes; it may be the first."

Traditionally jointly supported by the Ministry of Environment and the City of Vancouver, SPES has been operating the successful Co-Existing with Coyotes program for almost a decade.  Education to 9,000 school children every year, and direct response to neighbourhoods that are experiencing elevated visitation by coyotes, has proven to be extremely effective in safeguarding people and mitigating injuries to pets.

Provincial cutbacks this year, however, have left the program with a $15,000 grant shortfall that will compromise this important safety program.  SPES Executive Director, Patricia Thomson says, "Despite our name, 99% of the coyotes we respond to are outside of Stanley Park.  Without the continuation of this important education and action program, Lower Mainland communities are left without the support necessary to be empowered in the presence of coyotes.  With the loss of the Provincial funding, SPES invites funding partners from the community to help us safeguard against tragedies such as the loss of Miss Mitchell."