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Toronto, Whitby and Markham Weigh Coyote Removal After Child Attacks
Toronto data shows 20 human injuries and 331 dog attacks since 2019, as Whitby and Markham also consider lethal removal of aggressive coyotes.
- Violent coyote encounters across the Greater Toronto Area have left residents on edge, with a string of attacks on children in Toronto, Whitby, and Markham raising alarms in recent months.
- Trent University biology professor Dennis Murray said coyotes mainly act aggressively to protect their dens and pups, while habituation in urban areas makes them predatory toward humans seeking food.
- Markham and Whitby have lethally removed coyotes exhibiting abnormal behavior, while Toronto maintains a coexistence strategy; Whitby's Kate Novia reported more than 800 sightings since January, nearly triple the prior year.
- Toronto-Based spatial ecologist Tiziana Gelmi Candusso argued removing coyotes offers only temporary relief, stating "it will appease people for a little bit" but won't solve recurrent issues in the same areas.
- Experts emphasize that long-term prevention through public education and behavioral change—keeping dogs leashed and avoiding wildlife feeding—remains critical for managing urban-wildlife coexistence rather than lethal removal alone.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
The Toronto Star+11 Reposted by 11 other sources
Is the coyote coexistence strategy working? Experts weigh in after animal attacks
Violent coyote encounters across the Greater Toronto Area have left some residents on edge and sparked debate among wildlife experts on municipalities' responses to aggressive animals.
·Toronto, Canada
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left11Leaning Right0Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution85% Left
Bias Distribution
- 85% of the sources lean Left
85% Left
L 85%
15%
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