A Metro Vancouver woman has developed a unique way to keep the coyotes at bay after a couple of encounters with a wild canine on Sea Island.
Richmond resident Jill Raymond responded to a call out in one of the Vancouver Is Awesome daily newsletters with a funny video of her encounter with a coyote on Sea Island.
In the video, Raymond is heard asking "is this a coyote?" and remarking that "it's coming towards me and I'm frightened." As the coyote approaches, she debates running away but decides to walk away instead.
"So it's a normal circle route I take around the Richmond dyke," she tells V.I.A. "The first day I had been looking at my phone and when I looked up and saw the coyote I froze."
At first, she thought it was a large dog and couldn't see the owner. However, when it started coming toward her she realized it was a coyote. "My immediate thought was that I wanted to run but then I wasn't sure as I know certain predators you are supposed to do the opposite, so I walked sideways off the path while not turning my back to it."
Have a look at the first encounter.
A second coyote encounter
Raymond didn't expect to see the coyote again but joked with her family that she might run into it. "The second time I remember making a joke with my family 'I'm going to visit my friend," said.
This time, however, Raymond was prepared - but the type of noise she made might surprise you. In the second video, she sings a song about not being afraid of the wild canine.
"I knew that I should make noise and keep moving forward - I have no idea why I sang or what inspired it - I guess I just know I can project my voice well and my brain decided that this random improvised song was my strongest noisemaking skill."
While making noise is the right thing to do, the province also advises you to sound aggressive and wave your arms and/or throw rocks - never turn your back or run.
Raymond added that she doesn't see coyotes at her home but notes that she regularly sees hummingbirds, chickadees, robins, song sparrows, black-eyed juncos and bushtits on her balcony.
"I put up feeders last year during the lockdown. My balcony is my little sanctuary, so many plants there's barely room for me to sit!"
Have a look at the second encounter.
Learning to live with coyotes in Metro Vancouver
The Stanley Park Ecology Society is educating visitors on how to avoid dangerous encounters with our furry friends.
The initiative comes after the B.C. Conservation Officer Service received several reports of coyotes approaching people in Stanley Park. SPES Urban Wildlife Programs Coordinator Dannie Piezas reminds residents we need to drop the fear factor and start learning more about wild animal behaviour.
The society monitors coyote activity across the city and posts all sightings to a virtual interactive map. If you do come across a coyote, report it through their online form.
The province offers these tips on how to stay safe around coyotes.
- make yourself look as large as possible - if sitting, stand for example.
- Wave your arms and throw objects at the wolf or coyote.
- Shout at the wolf or coyote in a loud aggressive voice.
- If the wolf or coyote continues to approach don't run or turn your back. Continue to exaggerate the above gestures and slowly move to safety.
With files from Thor Diakow.
