In a routine Tuesday evening, Alice Kent habitually leaves the back entrance of her residence in Christie Pits unlocked for her cleaning service. However, one day, amidst the usual pleasantries exchanged with the cleaner upon arrival, Kent was taken aback to discover an unexpected visitor that had made its way in through the open door.
The surprise turned out to be a baby coyote, mistaken initially for a fox, comfortably resting on the bed in the master bedroom of her house. Kent, recounting the unusual encounter, expressed her disbelief at the sight of the coyote in her room, initially thinking it was a prank or a plush toy left behind.
Notably, Toronto has witnessed a surge in human-coyote interactions in recent years, with nine reported incidents of coyote bites in the city since 2020. In response to this concerning trend, Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik proposed an urgent action plan in February 2025.
The escalating encounters with coyotes have raised alarm among the public following incidents such as a child being attacked in Whitby, Ontario, in June, and another two-year-old in July in the same area. These incidents have spurred debates on strategies for population control, including euthanization and hazing.
For Kent, what initially seemed like a harmless and adorable encounter quickly turned into concerns for the safety of her family and cleaner upon realizing the potential risks associated with the coyote’s presence. The situation was further complicated by the coyote pup’s affliction with mange, a skin condition causing discomfort and hair loss.
Taking swift action, Kent promptly contacted both 911 and the Toronto Wildlife Centre for assistance. Subsequently, the wildlife response team, along with the police, managed to locate and extract the coyote pup from its hiding spot under the bed.
Executive Director of the Toronto Wildlife Centre, Nathalie Karvonen, highlighted the persistence of coyote issues in the Christie Pits neighborhood, emphasizing the negative impact of feeding coyotes in urban areas on their behavior and fearlessness towards humans.
Following the successful retrieval of the coyote pup from Kent’s residence, the wildlife team conducted a brief assessment and treatment on-site before releasing it back into its habitat. Kent recalled noticing a group of coyote pups frequenting her property weeks before the incident, and she had been following the Wildlife Centre’s advice on deterring them.
Karvonen recommended preventive measures such as removing food sources, supervising pets, and making noise to discourage unwanted coyote interactions. She underscored the importance of coexisting with coyotes while ensuring safety measures are in place.
The Toronto Wildlife Centre focuses on tracking and managing sick coyotes in the city, although the exact population numbers remain uncertain. Karvonen suggested that a comprehensive study would be required to determine the true extent of the coyote population in Toronto.