Burlington Mayor's Statement: Coyote Identified in Three Separate Attacks on People Eliminated

*Please see below a statement from Burlington Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and a news release issued by the City of Burlington.MAYOR'S STATEMENT:Our community is relieved this immediate threat to public safety has been removed. We were able to identify the particular coyote with the help of three of our residents who were attacked, and their families.One was a two-and-a-half-year-old toddler attacked while seated on a deck in their own fenced backyard while his father temporarily went inside to get a glass of water for the boy. There were no food sources or animals in the yard. The coyote grabbed the child by the back of the neck. The toddler was treated at Joseph Brant Hospital and released. The father was able to identify this coyote.Less than two kilometres of this attack, another resident -- an adult female -- was attacked while jogging alone in the early morning hours on the Centennial Multi-use Trail at Seneca Avenue. A coyote jumped on her back and tried to bite the back of her neck. She was able to get away when a passing cyclist scared the coyote off. She also was treated at Joseph Brant Hospital and release, and was able to identify the coyote.A third recent unprovoked attack on a person was reported to the City of Burlington yesterday evening. In this incident, an 18-year-old girl was lying in the grass in the evening at the municipal lookout at the end of Market Street, south of Lakeshore Road, when she felt a tug on her hair. Turning around, she discovered it was a coyote that then bit and scratched her leg as she stood up. The teen was taken for medical attention and released.An Animal Services staff member played a key role in tracking the coyote identified as being responsible for all three attacks.We are heartbroken that any residents were attacked and our thoughts are with them as they endure the subsequent medical treatments and recover. We are extremely grateful for their help in identifying this particular coyote so we could find and eliminate this threat, and ensure no other residents were injured.We are also grateful for the assistance of a certified wildlife control professional for their help in eliminating the coyote, and Halton Regional Police Service officers for support in maintaining the location of the coyote.I want to thank our animal control staff for their work with the community to identify and find this coyote so we could appropriately respond. It is very unusual for a coyote to behave in this manner, as generally coyotes do not approach and attack people.Going forward, we will be working with Ministry of Natural Resources staff and others to try to determine what led to this coyote attack, and what we can do going forward to take measures to prevent this from happening again. We are also working with a residents group -- Burlington and Oakville Coyote Management (BOCM) -- who have provided several recommendations to the City of Burlington for proactive coyote response that allows us to keep our community safe, knowing coyotes will live among us. We will be providing an update on some of those recommendations and any actions arising when we have more details.I thank the community for working with us to respond and ask people to continue to report coyote sightings through our dedicated City webpage at burlington.ca/coyote -- as this helps us better understand our local coyote population and determine appropriate response.

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CITY OF BURLINGTON NEWS RELEASE:Burlington, Ont. — Aug. 24, 2022 — The City of Burlington, with the expertise of a Certified Wildlife Control Professional, have eliminated the coyote identified by its victims in recent unprovoked attacks on humans in south central Burlington. The City would like to thank the support of the Halton Regional Police Services (HRPS) who were present to ensure public safety and were ready to assist, if needed.A third recent unprovoked coyote attack on a human was reported to the City yesterday evening Animal Services staff played a key role in tracking the coyote identified as being responsible for all three attacks.During the evening, an 18-year-old girl was lying in the grass at the municipal lookout at the end of Market Street, south of Lakeshore Road, when she felt a tug on her hair. She turned to see a coyote which then bit and scratched her leg as she stood up. The girl was taken for medical attention and was released.The two other recent attacks were also unprovoked but during the day. The first unprovoked attack was on a female adult on the Centennial Multiuse Trail at Seneca Avenue in the morning. The coyote jumped and bit her from behind. The second unprovoked attack was on a 2 ½ year-old toddler seated on a deck in his fenced backyard less than two kilometres east of the first attack. There was no food, small animals or any other activity to attract the coyote. The toddler was also bitten on the back of the neck. Both victims were treated at Joseph Brant Hospital and released.The attacks are uncharacteristic of coyotes and are the first reported attacks on humans in Burlington.Municipalities are responsible for taking appropriate actions to manage resident encounters with coyotes and take appropriate action on municipal property. On the rare occasion that a coyote attacks a person, the City has a Council approved protocol in place that is currently being followed to prioritize and deal with the one coyote in question.Anyone who sees a coyote is encouraged to let the City know by submitting an online report or calling 905-335-3030. Reporting coyote sightings, or potential problems related to overgrown building sites, garbage or someone intentionally or accidentally feeding a coyote, helps the City monitor the location and activity of coyotes in the community.Burlington is a city where people, nature and businesses thrive. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at burlington.ca/subscribe and follow @CityBurlington on social media.Quick Facts:

• These are the first reported coyote attacks on humans in Burlington.
• In 2015, Burlington City Council approved a Coyote Response Strategy that provides guidelines on preventing and managing conflicts with coyotes.
• Coyotes are native to North America and can be found living in urban and rural areas.
• Food sources like mice, rats, and garbage are readily available in urban areas, attracting coyotes to residential neighbourhoods.
• Concerns about direct or indirect feeding of wildlife can be reported to Animal Control at animalshelter.mailbox@burlington.ca
• Hand feeding and ground feeding wildlife on private or public property is prohibited by the city’s Lot Maintenance Bylaw (59-2018) and is subject to a $300 fine.
• To request an audit of your yard for coyote attractants by city Animal Control staff, please email animalshelter.mailbox@burlington.ca

Links and Resources:

• City of Burlington Investigating Recent Coyote Attacks
• Learn more about living with coyotes at www.burlington.ca/coyote
• Read the Council approved Coyote Response Strategy that includes an escalation process to deal with various levels of coyote interactions with residents and pets.
• Report a coyote sighting online at www.burlington.ca/coyote. Watch a video about how to wildlife proof your property.