Officials in Calgary have shut down a greenspace in the Panorama Hills area of the city after complaints about aggressive coyotes.
Area resident Gavin de Jong, who has young children, says the coyotes seem particularly aggressive this year.
Tanya Hope, a City of Calgary ecologist, said the wolf-like animals “are being very protective right now because they have pups in the den.”
Attacks on humans are rare, but may be deadly. For example, Toronto folk singer Taylor Mitchell died after a coyote mauling in 2009.
Hope said people who encounter coyotes shouldn’t turn and run but instead make eye contact, try to look as big as possible and back away. She said they should also report encounters to the city by calling 311.
Doug Frizzell, from the City of Calgary’s Animal Services, says people who live near green spaces should avoid leaving pet food, human food or pet waste in their yards because it may attract coyotes.
Hope said that people shouldn’t be afraid and should keep in mind that “we’ve kind of moved into their space.”
With a report from CTV Calgary
