Is the coyote coexistence strategy working? Experts weigh in after animal attacks

Since July, a series of attacks by coyotes on children in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) have heightened concerns among residents. These incidents include a toddler being bitten on the face in Whitby and separate attacks on a child and a teenager in Markham. In Toronto, coyotes have inflicted 20 human injuries, comprising nine bites, between 2019 and June 2024.

Dennis Murray, a biology professor at Trent University, attributes coyote aggression to protecting their dens and pups, as well as habituation due to seeking food in urban areas. He believes municipalities must act swiftly to remove or euthanize aggressive coyotes to prevent further attacks. Toronto data reveals 331 dog attacks by coyotes from 2019 to June 2024, with 143 incidents in 2024 and 2025.

The City of Toronto has adopted a coexistence strategy focused on public safety and education, rejecting lethal removal as ineffective and costly. Other cities like Whitby and Markham have also taken similar measures, euthanizing problem coyotes in response to attacks, but the effectiveness of these actions remains debated.