Toronto issues reminder to not feed coyotes after food reportedly left in Etobicoke park
Toronto officials are reminding residents not to feed coyotes after reports that food is being left for wildlife at an Etobicoke park.
City officials said they have received numerous reports that people have been leaving food out at Colonel Samuel Smith Park, which is located along Lake Ontario and home to abundant wildlife.
“Feeding coyotes and wild animals increases their presence and causes them to lose their fear of people, creating problems for both the wildlife and our neighbourhoods,” city staff said in a press release on Friday.
In 2021, the city received over 3,600 reports about coyote sightings in Toronto.
Coyote sightings due to food being left outdoors are not uncommon in the city.
In November 2021, several residents in the Junction neighbourhood reported numerous sightings of coyotes after someone was allegedly leaving meat in school playgrounds, despite coyote warning signs in the area.
And last summer, a 10-year-old girl and her dog were chased by a coyote in a residential area in Scarborough. The girl was not hurt but the animal sustained serious injuries. It is not known if food was left outside for wildlife in that neighbourhood, but residents reported previous sightings of a coyote before the attack.
The city says most coyote interactions are the result of people intentionally leaving food outdoors.
Feeding coyotes, however, is against city bylaws and could result in a $365 fine.
Coyotes do not typically pose a risk to humans but are a danger to pets.
If you encounter a coyote, the city recommends not running away but maintaining eye contact and slowly backing away, appearing large and threatening, making loud sounds and being assertive to scare the coyote away.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Bodies recovered in Mexico likely 2 Australians, 1 American who went missing: officials
Three bodies recovered in an area of Baja California are likely to be those of the two Australians and an American who went missing last weekend during a camping and surfing trip, the state prosecutor’s office said Saturday.
Work stoppage possible as WestJet issues lockout notice to maintenance engineers' union
A lockout notice issued by WestJet to a union representing aircraft maintenance engineers could result in a work stoppage next week.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
London Drugs begins 'gradual reopening' on 7th day after cyberattack
Almost a week after all London Drugs stores across Western Canada abruptly closed amid a cyberattack, they began a "gradual reopening" on Saturday.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Auston Matthews was back on the ice with his teammates Saturday.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.