UPDATED: Father concerned about coyote wandering around Maple's Teston Village Public School

Yorkregion.com
May 18, 2016
By Tim Kelly

A prowling coyote outside a Maple public school that has kept school-children inside for more than a week has at least one parent extremely worried.

“I’m scared for my children,” said Nadeem Mahmood, who has three daughters attending Teston Village Public School, outside which the coyote has found a home.

“Something could happen. The only thing we’re hearing is they can’t do anything. It’s here, it’s here,” complained Mahmood, who said the coyote has been hanging around the school since May 9.

A video shows the coyote running across the schoolyard during the evening while youngsters watch, but Mahmood said that was recorded after school had let out.

“It’s around during the day too,” he said.

Mahmood said York Regional Police have been contacted about the issue.

A member of the school council, Mahmood said “parents are calling me to do something about this.”

He said he has spoken to animal control in Toronto, who told him to use hazing techniques on the coyote.

“We taught our kids to scream at it and yell at it. We sent notices to houses as well,” he added.

Licinio Miguelo, a spokesperson for York Region District School Board, confirmed the presence of the coyote outside the school and said “school staff take appropriate measures by keeping students indoors and calling authorities.”

Miguelo said York Regional Police had been called, as had Vaughan Animal Services, which he said was the authority dealing with the coyote.

He added no students or staff have been attacked or harmed by the animal.

“Once it’s safe, students will go back outdoors,” he added.

Vaughan Animal Services said in a response that it has been on scene at the school and been in contact with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Toronto Wildlife Centre and Coyote Watch Canada. It says a report has been prepared, “to recommend the introduction of a wildlife response service that best meets the needs of our community.” But the report won’t be coming to Vaughan council until next month.

Animal Services said it will be working with the ministry on solutions to the school’s coyote issue but urges those who see the coyote to call 905-832-2281.

In the meantime, the service urges people not to feed, call or pet the coyote; to make lots of noise if you see it and wave your arms; report it to parents or an adult at school if you see it; dispose of garbage in your area; ensure pets are kept on a short leash and up-to-date on their vaccinations; and don’t run because it can stimulate a negative response in the coyote.

Five years ago, a Maple man lost his nine-year-old toy poodle to a coyote attack. Simon Marwood told the Citizen at that time after his dog, Henri, was lost: “I have four close neighbours that have had encounters,” he said. “We have had a lady chased into the house with her small dog, another coyote had his jaw around another neighbour’s dog’s neck (black Labrador). He only let go when my neighbour threw a large rock at him. We are being told by the Ministry of Natural Resources to jingle our keys, make yourself look big and make lots of noise. Well, I’m sorry, but that doesn’t work anymore.”

He added he doesn’t believe the public generally has “any clue that a coyote could lunge up a driveway and steal a pet away.”

Ed. Note: This story has been updated from its original posting to include comments from Vaughan Animal Services.