A Port Coquitlam man says he was forced to run for safety after two coyotes aggressively chased him and his dog in broad daylight earlier this week, according to a report in Global News.
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Scott Towers was walking his dog through a residential area when he noticed two coyotes following closely behind. The animals began running toward them, prompting Towers to sprint back to his home. Surveillance video shows the coyotes pursuing the pair up his driveway and onto the front steps before retreating.
“As soon as they made eye contact with both of us, they started running at us,” Towers told Global News.
Towers said he immediately contacted the city and BC Conservation Officer Service to report the encounter. According to Global News, the provincial government confirmed they are aware of the incident and are monitoring coyote activity in the area.
The City of Port Coquitlam has also reported recent incidents involving coyotes. Dominic Long, director of Community Safety and Corporate Services, said the city has observed “more than a few occasions” of aggressive coyote behaviour.
Authorities are reminding residents to keep pets on a leash, avoid feeding wildlife, and carry noise-making devices such as whistles or air horns when walking in wooded or residential areas. “If you see a coyote, you want to be loud and assertive,” Karly McMullen from WildSafeBC told Global News. “Never run, back away slowly if they start to approach you,” she added.
No one was injured in the incident, but Towers urged residents to stay vigilant on the trails.
We need a major cull of coyotes in the Tri Cities.