Stanley Park Recorded 108 Aggressive Human–Coyote Encounters in Nine Months

July 6, 2026

Conservation · Human–wildlife conflict

Vancouver’s Stanley Park recorded 108 aggressive encounters between people and coyotes (Canis latrans) over nine months from December 2020 to August 2021. Forty-five were attacks involving bites or scratches, while another 63 involved lunging or threatening behaviour. A study released publicly on 6 July 2026 examined why this unusually intense period of conflict developed.

The researchers compared reported aggressive encounters with ordinary coyote sightings and tested spatial and temporal variables associated with human activity, coyote behaviour, den locations and potential anthropogenic food sources. They also compared characteristics of people who had been attacked with observations of other park users.

Aggression rose during the pandemic restriction period

Coyote aggression was higher during the phase of the COVID-19 pandemic when indoor gatherings were restricted and outdoor recreation increased. The authors interpret the surge in human use as a likely contributor to habituation: coyotes repeatedly exposed to people may lose some of their normal wariness and become more willing to approach or interact with them.

The contrast with the preceding years was striking. The research team reported only one aggressive encounter in almost a decade before the 2020–2021 conflict period.

Busy trails had more aggression, but attacks often occurred at quieter times

Two results that initially appear contradictory operated at different scales. Across Stanley Park, aggressive encounters were more common on trails with higher overall human use. But within that broader pattern, attacks were more likely at times of the day or week when relatively fewer people were present.

People who were attacked were also more likely to be running and alone than park users in the comparison observations. The analysis found no effect of victim age or gender and no effect of whether a domestic dog was present.

The authors interpret this combination as consistent with opportunistic predatory behaviour contributing to some attacks: areas with frequent human exposure may promote habituation, while an individual person moving alone during a quieter period may present a different immediate context than a group on a busy trail.

Encounters were more frequent near known dens

Distance to coyote dens was another strong spatial predictor. Aggressive encounters occurred more frequently closer to known den sites. The authors interpret this as support for den defence contributing to part of the conflict, especially when human activity overlapped with areas being used for reproduction.

This finding also underlies one of their practical recommendations: during periods of elevated conflict risk, visitors can reduce exposure by avoiding known den areas.

Measured food-source locations did not explain the attacks

The statistical analysis did not support the idea that attacks clustered around the measured anthropogenic food sources. Aggressive encounters occurred farther from potential food sources such as garbage bins and picnic areas rather than closer to them.

That result does not match a simple spatial food-conditioning explanation. At the same time, the authors report anecdotal observations consistent with some coyotes having become food-conditioned — learning to associate people with access to food — including animals approaching people carrying or handling food. They therefore retain food conditioning as a possible contributor while distinguishing it from the predictors supported quantitatively by the study.

The authors point to several processes acting together

The researchers conclude that the Stanley Park events most likely arose through a combination of habituation to people, den defence, opportunistic predatory behaviour and possibly food conditioning. The study does not reduce the nine-month conflict period to one cause.

For future coexistence, the authors recommend preventing habituation and food conditioning by not feeding coyotes or leaving accessible food, avoiding approaches to coyotes, recreating in groups and during busier periods, and staying away from known den sites when risk is elevated. The Stanley Park episode ultimately led to the removal of 11 coyotes.

Sources and image credit

Lewis, N. C., St. Clair, C. C., Harrower, W. L., & Benson-Amram, S. R. (2026). Habituation, den defence and predatory opportunism appear to have contributed to coyote aggression in an urban park. Animal Behaviour, 238, 123617.Primary open-access peer-reviewed article. The study analysed 108 aggressive human–coyote encounters in Stanley Park from December 2020 to August 2021, including 45 attacks. Aggression was higher during pandemic restrictions, on trails with more overall human activity, at times of relatively low human activity, closer to dens and farther from measured anthropogenic food sources. Victims were more often running and alone; age, gender and dog presence were not associated with attacks.
University of British Columbia (2026). How we can coexist with coyotes, and other lessons from Stanley Park.Public researcher interview released 6 July 2026, the earliest verified day-level public release of the new study findings and therefore the Wildlife Vagabond story date. It documents 45 attacks, 63 other aggressive encounters, only one aggressive encounter in nearly the previous decade, the authors’ interpretation of habituation and anecdotal food conditioning, coexistence guidance and the cull of 11 coyotes.

Image: Renee Grayson — urban coyote in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, 20 March 2019; Wikimedia Commons / Flickr; CC BY 2.0. Representative urban-coyote image, not one of the coyotes involved in the Stanley Park conflict study. · CC BY 2.0 · Source

SPECIES IN THIS STORY

Species in this story

Coyote Canis latrans Explore species

Independent research and conservation news archive

Did you find this information useful?

Wildlife Vagabond is independently built and maintained. Voluntary support helps cover source verification, hosting and continued work on research and conservation news.

Support Wildlife Vagabond

The news archive will remain freely available.