‘Do not run’: Wildlife expert’s advice after coyote attack at Stanley Park

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Coyote attacks are rare, according to a wildlife expert, after a man punched one of the animals in Stanley Park to escape over the weekend.

Vancouver police say the 44-year-old man was riding an electric scooter on the seawall just before midnight when he and a coyote crashed into each other.

As he was laying on the ground, two coyotes started tugging at his jacket and clothes. The man hit one of the coyotes and flagged over a passerby to call 9-1-1.

While Daniel Mikolay with WildsafeBC can’t speak to what happened that night, he says it’s “very rare” that a coyote will attack a human. He says when it does happen, it’s usually for one of two reasons:

“One, the coyote is protecting its den, its territory. Or two, the coyote has become habituated, meaning someone has fed it and it’s used to seeing humans as a source for food. So, then it becomes more aggressive towards humans because it’s expecting to get a reward of food,” he explained.

Related articles:

• Man crashes into, fights off coyotes in Vancouver’s Stanley Park

• Woman bitten by coyote in Stanley Park prompts conservation officers to issue another warning

Mikolay says with more people staying indoors in the past year due to the pandemic, the coyotes’ territory has likely expanded.

“Now, the weather is getting warmer. People are going out, they’re exercising, they’re socially distancing. They’re going through trails that haven’t been used in the past. Therefore, it becomes an adjustment period between humans and wildlife, in terms of how they interact with each other,” he said.

However, it’s unclear where in Stanley Park the latest coyote attack happened.

What should you do if you find yourself face to face with one?

“Do not run,” Mikolay emphasized. “That is the most important thing. Do not run away because that can trigger an attack.”

You should keep eye contact with the animal.

“You want to be very big and you want to either shout at the coyote or use a low, firm voice. You want to show dominance. Then walk away slowly, maintaining eye contact,” he said.

If you encounter a coyote and you are with kids, he suggests picking up small children and keeping older ones near you — preferably in front of you.

“That way, you can see the child and the animal and then walk away slowly. Putting the child behind you, you wouldn’t be able to see them. If they get scared, they could possibly run away, which could make things more difficult,” he said.

Related video:

If you have a walking stick, you can raise it above your head to help you look big. If the coyote is starting to move towards you and there are rocks nearby, Mikolay says you can grab some and throw them near the animal.

“That will scare the animal away,” he explained. “Don’t throw it to try to hit the animal. Just try to scare the animal away.”

With files from Lasia Kretzel