PHOTOS: Family of coyotes frolics on Metrotown lawn in broad daylight
By Janaya Fuller-Evans, Burnaby Now
Breakfast time: A family of four coyotes chose to have breakfast on this residential lawn in South Burnaby on July 4 at 10:30 a.m. The coyotes are eating some kind of animal, likely a raccoon.
Kathy Gagno has seen her share of coyotes in her South Burnaby neighbourhood, but was still surprised when a family of four coyotes showed up on a lawn beside her home at 10:30 a.m. on July 4.
The coyotes chose the lawn, near Nelson Avenue and Grange Street, for a breakfast of some sort of animal, most likely a raccoon, Gagno said."This is the first time I have seen a whole family of them, and in the daytime, too," Gagno said in an email to the NOW. She added her home is only five blocks away from Metropolis at Metrotown, which is a very busy area. She first took photos of the coyotes from inside her home, and then went on her balcony, she said, which spooked them a little. But they didn't leave. What was kind of neat to see is that the mom stood right next to the braver pup, who still wanted to eat, and she sent some sort of signal to him or her to stay by her side," Gagno said. The dad stayed with the other pup, she added, and would come back over to check on the other two.
Gagno's son saw one of the pups again the next morning, she said, and she has seen the mother coyote on her lawn a few times in the past few weeks. The family keeps its cats indoors, she said, after losing one, likely to a coyote, a few years ago. "This is the first time I have seen a whole family group of coyotes," she said. "It is not unusual to see them down by Forglen Park or along Deer Lake Parkway, and occasionally in this neighbourhood, but they are always by themselves."
These coyotes were also quite brave compared with others she's seen, Gagno added. "Generally, they don't bother anyone and seem quite shy, although my family knows not to approach them, especially with pups or if they are eating," she said.
Another South Burnaby resident reported daylight coyote sightings in his neighbourhood. Leo Wang reported seeing one coyote near Pearl Avenue and Oakland Street in the early evening on June 9, and another two coyotes in the same area on June 23, always hiding in residents' gardens, he said in an email to the NOW.
Denning season usually goes until June, Co-Existing with Coyotes program coordinator, Phil Dubrulle, told the NOW earlier this year, with coyote families leaving their dens eight to 10 weeks after pups emerge. Co-Existing with Coyotes is a program developed by the Stanley Park Ecology Society in cooperation with the Vancouver Parks Board and B.C.'s Ministry of Environment.
There are between 2,000 and 3,000 coyotes throughout Greater Vancouver, according to Dubrulle.
Anyone who sees a coyote, or a den or pups in the area is advised to contact the program's hotline at 604-681-9453.
Gagno's son saw one of the pups again the next morning, she said, and she has seen the mother coyote on her lawn a few times in the past few weeks. The family keeps its cats indoors, she said, after losing one, likely to a coyote, a few years ago. "This is the first time I have seen a whole family group of coyotes," she said. "It is not unusual to see them down by Forglen Park or along Deer Lake Parkway, and occasionally in this neighbourhood, but they are always by themselves."
These coyotes were also quite brave compared with others she's seen, Gagno added. "Generally, they don't bother anyone and seem quite shy, although my family knows not to approach them, especially with pups or if they are eating," she said.
Another South Burnaby resident reported daylight coyote sightings in his neighbourhood. Leo Wang reported seeing one coyote near Pearl Avenue and Oakland Street in the early evening on June 9, and another two coyotes in the same area on June 23, always hiding in residents' gardens, he said in an email to the NOW.
Denning season usually goes until June, Co-Existing with Coyotes program coordinator, Phil Dubrulle, told the NOW earlier this year, with coyote families leaving their dens eight to 10 weeks after pups emerge. Co-Existing with Coyotes is a program developed by the Stanley Park Ecology Society in cooperation with the Vancouver Parks Board and B.C.'s Ministry of Environment.
There are between 2,000 and 3,000 coyotes throughout Greater Vancouver, according to Dubrulle.
Anyone who sees a coyote, or a den or pups in the area is advised to contact the program's hotline at 604-681-9453.
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