Dog owners urged to be cautious after coyote sighting at Coronation Park

Toronto police are warning downtown dog owners to be on the lookout after coyotes were spotted at a park near the lakeshore.

The report was for the animals near Coronation Park near Remembrance Drive and Martin Goodman Trail.

"Use caution in the area and keep dogs on leash," Toronto Police Operations advised in a social media post.

Coyotes generally do not pose a danger to people, but can pose a danger for pets, the city notes.

See: Coyote advocates say pet attacks aren't the fault of wild animals

The animals don't hibernate and may be seen more often in winter when there's less foliage.  

The city said when a coyote comes too close, you should maintain eye contact with the animal and use aversion techniques — like waving your arms above your head and shouting to scare the coyote away.

If the coyote doesn’t leave, you may be near its den or food source. In that case, back away slowly while maintaining eye contact, the city advises. 

Like raccoons, coyotes thrive in urban settings because of easy access to food.

The city offers the following "myth busters" in a fact sheet for residents:

• Statistically, coyotes are not a significant threat to the safety of humans. Coyote bites to humans are very rare. 
• Coyotes are not a significant predator of cats. Urban coyote diet studies show they generally eat small rodents, fruit, insects and animals that were already dead (carrion). However, they occasionally hunt cats, so keep your cat safe.
• Coyotes in Eastern Canada have some wolf DNA and this has been the case for decades. There isn’t a new animal called “Coywolf” — this is a nickname. Coyotes in Toronto are the same coyotes that have always been here. They act like coyotes, not wolves.  

To report a coyote sighting, call 416-338-PAWS (7297), or email [email protected].

HAZARD:
Remembrance Dr & Martin Goodman Trail
4:45pm
-reports of coyotes near Coronation Park
-use caution in the area and keep dogs on a leash
-to report a coyote sighting, call 416-338-PAWS (7297), or email [email protected]
^av

— Toronto Police Operations (@TPSOperations) December 13, 2024