It’s getting coyote ugly for some downtown residents after a spate of attacks on pets.
Dog owners in the Liberty Village and Garrison Common areas were on coyote alert at neighbourhood parks on Monday after a series of attacks dating to November, including one that resulted in a dog’s death after it was bitten and developed sepsis. Residents said they are seeing the coyotes more frequently and that they are becoming bolder.
Carla, a dog walker who was out with her poodles Molly and Pip and her client’s dog Goldie, was carrying a red whistle around her neck and was armed with deterrent spray in her pouch.
“It’s getting very scary to be out with the coyotes,” said Carla. “And I’m very cautious — well, overly cautious, I would say.
“Definitely checking around and behind even though I walk multiple dogs at once.
“It is getting to a point where the paranoia is quite large, so I am definitely taking more precautions.”
Carla said the coyotes don’t seem to be deterred by big dogs or humans trying to scare them away. She also said she is staying away from the Garrison Common park because she feels their dens are there. She added that a coyote was recently spotted across from the Toy Factory Lofts and that it tried to attack a dog before people came out from a nearby pub to ward it off
“It didn’t really seem fazed,” she said.
Lena, who was walking her Yorkshire terrier Louis in Gateway Park at about noon, said she is on alert because her dog is “bite”-sized for the predators. She said she is careful to walk at certain times of the day and with her boyfriend at night.
“My boyfriend has seen a few and had to yell them off and, of course, I am worried for him (Louis) because he is just one bite,” said Lena. “Even a lot of neighbours are complaining it is becoming dangerous even for big dogs.”
When asked what she would like to see being done, Lena said euthanasia was out of the question and that relocation would be a better idea for the city to alleviate residents’ fears.
Bruno, who was out with his 8-year-old golden retriever Khaleesi, said he isn’t worried as much because of his dog’s size, but added he looks over his shoulders while walking at Gateway Park off Strachan Ave. or near Fort York and Garrison Common because he believes the coyotes use the train tracks and roam in packs.
Many of the dog walkers who the Toronto Sun spoke with believe that the tear-down of the natural habitat at Ontario Place has displaced the coyotes and pushed them into the area.
On the grounds of Fort York. bylaw officers, Toronto Police and an animal service crew were seen. They were there Monday to inform people about the dangers, but were also issuing tickets to dog owners who had their pooches off-leash including a man with his Doberman pinscher who received a $600 ticket.
Spadina-Fort York Councillor Ausma Malik, who also serves as deputy mayor, addressed residents’ concerns on Friday in a statement on social media, saying she is “working with city staff, community members and animal experts with seriousness for the safety of all.”
“In this area, coyotes have been displaced from their habitats without proper consideration by provincial redevelopment like Ontario Place and are dangerously entering our growing neighbourhoods,” she said.
“I will be urgently moving forward a targeted Downtown Coyote ActionPlan that responds to the unique challenges our communities face, including limited green spaces and increasing development.”
She asked residents to report coyote sightings to the city’s 311 hotline or to reach out to her office at 416-392-4044 or [email protected].