A Calgary woman and her dog are recovering after a violent encounter with two coyotes on a bike path in West Confederation Park—an incident highlighting a growing concern over coyote aggression in the city. Kimberley Holmes and her three-year-old dog, Theodora, were attacked on July 11 during a midday stroll. “We were violently attacked by two coyotes,” said Holmes. When Theodora was bitten multiple times, Holmes attempted to shield her dog from further harm. “Scooped her up into my arms and tried to protect her at that point. The one jumped at me and bit me in the chin,” said Holmes. Holmes has lived in the area near the park for 21 years and says there has been a significant change in coyote behaviour over the past year and a half, observing them becoming increasingly aggressive in the park. CTV News cameras captured two coyotes in the park on Tuesday. The City of Calgary’s 311 line has received nearly 1,500 calls about coyotes this year alone. Holmes says the city should remove the coyotes from the area or at least deter them from confronting humans. “My neighbours and myself, we’re all afraid to use the park,” she said. “There are children everywhere in that park. If somebody’s child gets attacked, the city’s in a position of negligence.” Shelley Alexander, a geography professor at the University of Calgary and a human-coyote conflict expert, says dog owners should keep their pets on a short leash and in sight. “They (coyotes) don’t care whether it’s a small dog or a large dog,” she said. “They view them as a threat to the pups. … It’s exceedingly rare for coyotes to attack people. We’re talking, on average, three people per year in all of Canada.” Lisa Howells, who lives near the Shaganappi Golf Course with her dog, 14-year-old Teddy, has also experienced aggressive coyote encounters, including two last week. “A coyote spotted us and started circling. Then Teddy and I started to walk home. It came out of nowhere and then chased us to our front step and had its paws on our front step,” said Howells. Warning signs have been placed to notify residents of potential danger in West Confederation Park. The city has also initiated daily patrols with wildlife management contractors. Alexander suggests carrying an umbrella or a plastic bag to scare off the canines. “Coyotes typically respond to those things,” she said. The city confirmed Holmes’ attack is the only reported incident involving a coyote in West Confederation Park it is aware of. While it’s rare for the city to remove coyotes, officials stated it could happen if their behaviour poses a risk to public safety.
