Residents near Vancouver’s largest urban park witnessed an unprecedented surge in coyote attacks from December 2020 to August 2021. A total of 45 incidents prompted the B.C. Ministry of Forests and the B.C. Conservation Officer Service to cull 11 coyotes. While coyote attacks are typically rare, this concentrated spike raised concerns due to its frequency of approximately one attack every six days in a confined area.
Researchers led by zoology doctoral candidate Nathan Lewis from the University of British Columbia have been investigating the reasons behind this surge in coyote aggression in Stanley Park since 2023. Their recently published study in the scientific journal Animal Behaviour suggests that COVID-19 lockdowns played a significant role.
The study revealed that during the lockdown period, more people flocked to the park, inadvertently habituating the coyotes to human presence. This heightened familiarity led the coyotes to feel less threatened, potentially resulting in increased aggression towards humans. Additionally, the researchers noted an uptick in people feeding coyotes, a practice prohibited under a 2024 bylaw in Vancouver.
Following a two-week culling operation, two individuals were arrested for allegedly feeding coyotes in Stanley Park in September 2021. Wildlife conservation advocate Lesley Fox recommended making park garbage cans wildlife-resistant to prevent further incidents. However, the Vancouver Park Board’s environmental stewardship coordinator, Dana McDonald, stated that existing waste management practices were effective in deterring wildlife access to garbage.
The study highlighted that habituated coyotes were more likely to defend their pups aggressively, particularly near den sites. It recommended keeping visitors away from known den locations to reduce the risk of defensive behavior. Fox emphasized the need for improved signage and enforcement of bylaws to promote coexistence without resorting to culls.
Ultimately, the study underscores the importance of education and enforcement in fostering peaceful cohabitation with wildlife.