2-year-old bitten by coyote in Metro Vancouver park | 24CA News
A two-year-old was attacked by a coyote at Lions Park in Port Coquitlam, B.C., on Wednesday evening, in response to the B.C. Conservation Officer Service.
The little one was taken to hospital with minor accidents. The coyote was killed close to the assault website, in response to conservation officers.
“An examination of the coyote killed showed evidence it had consumed non-natural food sources,” the service wrote in a tweet, noting the significance of not feeding harmful wildlife.
Cpl. Alexa Hodgins of the Coquitlam RCMP mentioned the coyote was seen in and across the park approaching different kids as properly and was shot to guarantee public security.
Coyote Attack | <br><br>The <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCCOS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#BCCOS</a> is investigating after a 2-year-old little one was attacked by a coyote final evening in <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/PortCoquitlam?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#PortCoquitlam</a><br><br>The incident occurred shortly after 8 p.m. at Lions Park. The little one was bitten by a coyote and brought to hospital with minor accidents.
—@_BCCOS
The Conservation Officer Service recommends folks take steps to keep away from coyote encounters, together with placing a leash on their pets and travelling in teams.
WATCH | Conservation officer discusses coyote behaviour:
Sgt. Todd Hunter of the B.C. Conservation Officer Service outlines the steps he recommends folks take to keep away from encounters with coyotes after an animal bit a two-year-old in Port Coquitlam Wednesday evening.
Increase in aggression throughout denning season
Sarah Benson-Amram, an assistant professor of forest and conservation sciences on the University of British Columbia, mentioned coyote assaults are uncommon, however coyotes are extra protecting of their area now as a result of it is denning season — when pups are born.
“We do sometimes see an increase in coyote aggression at this time of year, but to actually bite a young child is incredibly rare,” Benson-Amram mentioned.
“I wouldn’t necessarily expect that the aggression will increase from here on out.”
She says there’s additionally a hyperlink between coyotes consuming human meals and a rise in assaults as a result of the animals study people are a supply of meals and due to this fact grow to be bolder.
Coyote assaults had been particularly excessive in Vancouver’s Stanley Park about two years in the past when 45 folks, together with kids, reported being bitten or nipped within the park by a coyote between December 2020 and late August 2021.
The park was closed in a single day for 2 weeks so coyotes may very well be trapped and killed to curb the rising variety of assaults on people. In whole, 11 coyotes had been killed.
Benson-Amram mentioned it is necessary to have indicators round parks that point out the place there are lively coyote dens to encourage folks to keep away from these areas.
