Coyote at large after biting two people in North York park, city says

Thestar.com
Nov. 22, 2021
Lloyd Quansah

Toronto officials are searching for a coyote after two people were bitten Sunday afternoon, the city said in a statement Sunday night.

Toronto police said they received phone calls Sunday afternoon about an “aggressive” coyote that attacked people in Bayview Village Park.

Police officers and Toronto Animal Services investigated the scene and have not caught the animal yet.

Police and the city are warning the public to avoid the area and to be careful walking in the neighbourhood.

“The coyote is still at large,” the city said in its statement, noting that the animals “generally do not pose a danger to people and a bite to a human is abnormal behaviour.”

Police said animal services believes the coyote went back to the woods.

People can report coyote sightings by calling 416-338-PAWS (7297) or emailing animalservices@toronto.ca.

The city website advises people to never feed, touch or approach coyotes; to make noise to scare them away; and to keep dogs leashed.

Earlier this year, in the summer, a family in Scarborough described being traumatized after their pet dog was injured while defending their young daughter from a coyote attack.