Coyote den in Lalande Conservation Park decommissioned; park reopening

The City of Ottawa says Lalande Conservation Park will be reopening after a pack of brazen coyotes caused the park to close. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy reports.

The City of Ottawa says it is gradually reopening Lalande Conservation Park in Orléans after closing it following a reported coyote attack.

A teenage boy reported being bitten by a coyote in early June, prompting the city to close the park to the public. A family of coyotes with three pups was living in a den in the park.

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The city says the paved pathway through the park between Plainridge Crescent and Nantes Street will reopen on Friday, while barricades will remain in place closing access to the remainder of the park.

The rest of the park is expected to fully reopen by Saturday, July 4.

The city says this move comes as the coyote pups have grown and the den is no longer occupied.

“Since its closure, the city and its service provider, Coyote Watch Canada, have been monitoring the den and employing deterrent methods to discourage animals becoming comfortable around humans,” the city said in a news release.

“As the pups have become more mobile, the presence of coyotes in the park has become more sporadic and is no longer tied to the den site. Staff decommissioned the den on Wednesday, June 24 after confirming it was no longer being used.”

A city spokesperson says staff safely filled the former den with clean soil and placed large boulders over the entrance to discourage the coyotes from returning. A specialized camera was used to confirm the underground den was empty.

Coyotes are still expected to live in the area, but the city says they appear to be avoiding humans more regularly. Last week, city staff said there had been no new reports of human-coyote interactions since the initial report in early June.

“The park will likely remain within the urban territory of this family of coyotes and future observations are likely. However, the coyotes appear to now display the normal avoidance of humans and staff anticipate that they will continue to do so,” the city said.

“The city reminds all residents that coyotes and other urban wildlife are common in Ottawa.”

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Genevieve Mollema, the vice president of the Greater Avalon Community Association, says she hasn’t seen coyotes in the area in weeks.

“I know we can hear them… sometimes during the evening and nighttimes,” Mollema said. “Some people are saying they can hear them but we see them really less often than before during the spring.”

Parents are encouraged to teach their children to not approach, disturb, or interact with wildlife, particularly at a time of year when animals are caring for and protecting their young. Animal owners are reminded to keep pets under direct supervision. Dogs must be on-leash at Lalande Conservation Park.

The city says if you notice any concerning coyote behaviour, you can report it by calling 3-1-1.

If you spot a coyote or if it approaches you, the city offers the following tips:

• Stay calm and slowly back away
• Do not turn your back or run
• Stand tall, wave your hands and shout at it
• Pick up small children or small pets

With files from CTV’s Natalie van Rooy.