In a weekly routine, Alice Kent keeps the rear entrance of her home in Christie Pits accessible for her house cleaner every Tuesday evening. However, during one such occasion, Kent was surprised to discover an unexpected visitor that had entered through the open door.
Kent recounted the moment when her cleaner, after beginning her cleaning duties upstairs, calmly descended halfway and informed Kent about a potential fox in the bedroom. To Kent’s astonishment, the supposed “fox” turned out to be a young coyote resting on the master bedroom mattress.
The increasing number of human-coyote encounters in Toronto has become a concerning trend. City records indicate that since 2020, there have been nine incidents of coyote bites in Toronto. Responding to this issue, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik presented an urgent action plan in February 2025.
Recent incidents, including a child being attacked in Whitby, Ontario, and a two-year-old facing a similar encounter in July, have incited public outcry and sparked discussions about managing the coyote population.
Kent, initially finding the coyote pup adorable, soon realized the potential risks it posed, especially considering her children’s safety. Concerned about the situation, which was compounded by the pup’s mange condition, Kent promptly contacted both 911 and the Toronto Wildlife Centre for assistance.
Notably, the Christie Pits neighborhood has been no stranger to close encounters with coyotes, largely due to continued feeding of these animals in the area. Nathalie Karvonen, the executive director of the Toronto Wildlife Centre, emphasized the negative impact of feeding coyotes, altering their behavior and reducing their fear of humans and residential areas.
When the wildlife response team arrived on the scene, they located the coyote pup hiding under the bed. The team easily retrieved the pup, known to them due to its mange condition, and provided immediate treatment before releasing it back into the vicinity.
Kent had previously observed three coyote pups frequenting her back deck and had been advised by the Wildlife Centre to deter them from her property. Karvonen recommended practical measures like removing food sources, supervising pets, and making noise to discourage unwanted coyote interactions.
The Toronto Wildlife Centre focuses on tracking sick coyotes in the city, highlighting the need for comprehensive studies to determine the actual coyote population in Toronto accurately.