Coyote Alert

Recently I heard a sad news about a coyote that got a small unleashed dog in the Stanley park. It happened about a month ago while the owner was walking the dog. I took my dogs to Stanley Park sometimes during the summer time and I never worried about the coyotes till now. Because of this sad story, I hope all the dog owners will be more aware of unleashing your dogs in Stanley Park. Here is an article I found from City of Vancouver website.

Even though your pet lives in the city, Vancouver is home to a variety of wildlife species and there are dangerous predators out there.

An estimated 2,000 to 3,000 coyote live among us in the Lower Mainland. Although the coyotes eat mainly small mammals such as mice and rats, they will eat domestic pets. All small pets should be kept indoors at night and on a leash when out with their owners. Coyotes are generally no threat to people but should be treated with respect and never approached or fed. People with small children should be especially careful with their kids around animals.

What does a coyote look like?

• small, dog-like, looks like a cross between a fox and a German Shepherd
• average weight - 9-14 kg
• length - 0.75 m - 1 m
• coats are generally brown; some with reddish tinges
• has a bushy tail that is 30 - 40 cm long, with a distinctive black tip
• yellow eyes that help them see well in low light.
• ears are large for their body size
• have a distinctive, quick gait, and run with their tail down; can run at speeds up to 64 km/hour for short distances.