Burlington, Ont.—Aug. 26, 2022— Another unprovoked coyote attack was reported to the City of Burlington from a woman walking in Central Park around 6:30 a.m. on Aug. 24. She was treated at Joseph Brant Hospital for coyote scratches and released. City staff are also following up with health officials regarding a fifth unconfirmed attack on Mayzel Road, next to Central Park. The City is asking residents to be vigilant in these areas and report coyote sightings using the form at burlington.ca/servicerequest.
Anyone attacked by a coyote is advised to seek immediate medical attention and report the attack to the Halton Region Health Department and to the City of Burlington Animal Services at animalservices@burlington.ca or 905-335-3030.
These attacks are uncharacteristic of coyotes and this cluster of attacks on humans are the first reported in Burlington.
The City of Burlington, with the expertise of a Certified Wildlife Control Professional, is urgently dealing with these most recent attacks and a den of coyotes related to the unprovoked attacks. The den is located on a private lot and City staff have contacted the owners to remove vegetation and fallen trees. They have seven days to comply with the City order to clean up the building site, so it is no longer an attractive denning site for coyotes.
Municipalities are responsible for taking appropriate actions to manage resident coyote sightings, encounters and attacks and take appropriate action. If a coyote attacks a person, the City has a Council approved Coyote Response Strategy in place that is currently being followed to prioritize and deal with this situation.
City of Burlington staff will present a report to council on coyote management recommendations at the Corporate Services, Strategy, Risk and Accountability Committee Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 14 for approval at the City of Burlington Council Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 20.
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Quick Facts
- In 2015, Burlington City Council approved a Coyote Response Strategy that provides guidelines on preventing and managing conflicts with coyotes.
- These are the first reported coyote attacks on humans in Burlington.
- Coyotes are native to North America and can be found living in urban and rural areas.
- Food sources like mice, rats, and garbage are readily available in urban areas, attracting coyotes to residential neighbourhoods.
- Concerns about direct or indirect feeding of wildlife can be reported to Animal Control at animalshelter.mailbox@burlington.ca
- Hand feeding and ground feeding wildlife on private or public property is prohibited by the city’s Lot Maintenance Bylaw (49-2022) and is subject to a fine.
- To request an audit of your yard for coyote attractants by city Animal Control staff, please email animalshelter.mailbox@burlington.ca.
Links and Resources
Map of coyote attacks
This map pinpoints the unprovoked coyote attacks in the City of Burlington
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Media contact:
Carla Marshall
Communications Advisor
carla.marshall@burlington.ca
City of Burlington responding to more coyote attacks - burlington.ca
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