A young child has sustained serious injuries after being bitten by a coyote at a playground in Whitby, Ont., where there have been multiple recent sightings, according to Durham police.
The two-year-old boy was playing at Vanier Park on Sunday evening when a coyote entered the area and attacked him, police said in a news release on Monday.
The boy suffered bites to his face before his guardian and others managed to scare the coyote away, according to police. He was taken to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
<p/About an hour later, officers responded to reports of another coyote seen in distress near Harriet and Annes streets. Police located the animal and removed it from the vicinity. No injuries were reported.
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Durham police stated that they are collaborating with the Town of Whitby, local animal services, and the Durham Region Health Department to investigate these incidents, monitor coyote activity, and help prevent future encounters.
“While coyotes are a natural part of our local environment and incidents involving aggressive behaviour towards humans are rare, these encounters are taken very seriously,” the police release stated.
“Residents are urged to remain vigilant and proactive, particularly near parks, playgrounds, trails, and other natural areas, especially during the early morning and evening hours when coyotes are most active.”
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Toronto’s deputy mayor pitches action plan on city coyote attacks
A rise in coyote attacks throughout the city has led Toronto’s deputy mayor to propose an action plan aimed at tackling this issue at city hall. CBC’s Naama Weingarten has more on this story.
Durham police stated that they are collaborating with the Town of Whitby, local animal services, and the Durham Region Health Department to investigate these incidents, monitor coyote activity, and help prevent future encounters.
“While coyotes are a natural part of our local environment and incidents involving aggressive behaviour towards humans are rare, these encounters are taken very seriously,” the police release stated.
“Residents are urged to remain vigilant and proactive, particularly near parks, playgrounds, trails, and other natural areas, especially during the early morning and evening hours when coyotes are most active.”
Several coyote incidents recently reported in Durham
This incident follows closely after another child in Whitby was hospitalized due to a coyote bite. That child had been bitten while playing in a public field next to a wooded area. At that time, police noted several recent reports of coyote incidents in Durham Region. In a public advisory shared on social media, authorities cautioned residents-especially pedestrians and pet owners-to “exercise caution when using public spaces.” The town’s online dashboard shows there have been 96 coyote sightings in Whitby over the past month. Other neighborhoods around Toronto have also experienced increased sightings of coyotes over the last year or so. York police issued warnings after two children were attacked last month. Additionally, complaints about rising numbers of coyotes in Liberty Village prompted Toronto officials to create a new strategy for dealing with them.What to do to stay safe from coyotes
The police provided several tips for staying safe around coyotes: If spotted, keep a safe distance. Never approach, feed or interact with coyotes. Supervise children outside and keep pets on a short leash. Follow guidance and signage in areas where coyotes have been spotted. Whenever possible, avoid areas where coyotes have been known to be present. Remove food attractants like unsecured garbage, pet food and fallen fruit. If you encounter a coyote, remain calm and do not run. Make yourself big, make loud noises and back away slowly. Police encouraged residents to report any future sightings of coyotes to animal services.Source link
