This email is regarding our encounter with two coyotes while walking our dogs on the Betty Sutherland trail this morning.
Two neighbours and myself walk our dogs every morning during this heat around 9 o’clock. We head down past the tennis courts onto the Betty Sutherland trail leading under the 401. This morning we took our usual route and then shortly past the 401 overpass we head down a path on the left side to a shallow area in the river where the dogs can cool themselves off. As we were down by the water, one of our dogs became quite agitated and started racing along the water’s edge howling loudly so we were on the watch to see what was bothering her. Nothing came out of the forest so we shortly thereafter headed back to the trail and started walking towards the wooden bridge. I happened to glance back over my shoulder only to see a large coyote come leaping out of the path that we had just left and lope off across the trail just behind us into the tall grass. Needless to say we were more than a little shocked.
We walked up to the end of the trail and on our way back we were carefully watching for any movement in the tall grass where the big coyote had disappeared. It is the grassy area on the 401 side of the trail just before the wooden steps leading up into the forest and trail bike area. All of a sudden we saw something come leaping along in the grass coming towards us. It was a younger coyote, maybe a year or so old. It came leaping out at the dogs, not attacking, perhaps wanting to join them as part of a pack or wanting to play. We started making all kinds of noiose, and stamping our feet and then a cyclist came along making noise for us as well. Initially we started to run but it chased us so we slowed down and then did the noise thing.
We did get in touch with the city department dealing with wildlife. They told us that there is probably a den nearby and that is why we saw probably a mother and her pup. We were also told that the pups are not very bright and probably do just want to play but as we all know, things happen and mothers are very protective of their young.
We wanted to let you know about this encounter because youngsters and parents, parents with little youngs in strollers, and families with dogs all use the trail quite regularly. It would be prudent I think to try to let people know to be aware and more cautious for the next little while. With the cooler weekend weather coming, I know that people will be out and about again.
If you could circulate this information we would feel like we tried to alert our community and keep our members safe.
Thanks for your assistance,
Kelly Perrin
