Residents living near Vancouver’s largest urban park during the COVID-19 pandemic may have noticed a concerning increase in coyote attacks. From December 2020 to August 2021, there were 45 reported incidents of coyotes attacking humans in Stanley Park, prompting authorities to approve the culling of 11 animals. While coyote attacks on humans are typically rare, this spike was unprecedented, with attacks occurring approximately every six days in a concentrated area.
Research conducted by zoology doctoral candidate Nathan Lewis and his team at the University of British Columbia suggests that the surge in coyote aggression in Stanley Park may be attributed to the effects of COVID lockdowns. With limited social activities indoors, more people visited the park, leading to increased encounters with habituated coyotes that no longer perceived humans as threats.
The study, recently published in the scientific journal Animal Behaviour, revealed that there was a rise in people feeding coyotes during the study period, despite it being prohibited under a 2024 bylaw in Vancouver. Feeding wildlife can lead to coyotes associating humans with food, potentially resulting in aggressive behavior.
Following a two-week culling operation in September 2021, two individuals were arrested for allegedly feeding coyotes in Stanley Park. Wildlife conservation advocate Lesley Fox emphasized the importance of making park garbage cans wildlife-resistant to prevent attracting coyotes. However, the Vancouver Park Board’s Dana McDonald stated that existing garbage disposal practices were effective in deterring wildlife access.
The UBC study also highlighted that habituated coyotes were more likely to defend their pups aggressively, particularly near den sites. Recommendations included avoiding known den sites to reduce the risk of aggressive encounters and informing visitors of elevated risk during low human activity hours. Improved signage and enforcement of bylaws were suggested to promote human-coyote coexistence without resorting to culling.
Fox emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach involving education and enforcement to address wildlife conflicts effectively, stating that killing animals should not be the primary solution. She stressed that a combination of education and enforcement measures is crucial for fostering coexistence between humans and wildlife.
