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Effective immediately, Stanley Park will be reopened for full use by the public.
The park was closed at the end of August, from 7 pm to 7 am, due to the risk of visitors encountering aggressive and “human food-conditioned” coyotes.
Now, all trails are open and fencing and signage will be taken down in the coming days.
Staff from the BC ministry of forests and lands will continue to monitor the park and Park Rangers will be monitoring both human and animal behaviour and the newly installed wildlife-proof garbage bins.
Park Board staff will now focus on an awareness campaign in an effort to educate the public about safely sharing the area with wildlife and restoring coexistence.
Stanley Park reopens to the public for full use today, following closure due to risk of encountering aggressive coyotes. Full details: https://t.co/wMrelFTC7e pic.twitter.com/J21YrJwduH
— Vancouver Park Board (@ParkBoard) September 21, 2021
The statement explains that “wildlife experts believe there are still a small number of coyotes in Stanley Park and that the immediate threat to humans has been addressed.”
During these overnight closures, four coyotes were captured and “lethally” removed from the park while two were put down in January, four in July and one more on Aug. 31 – the day the park was closed.
As of Aug. 23 there had been nearly 40 reported attacks since December 2020.
The Park Board advises visitors to continue exercising caution at dawn and dusk, not to feed the animals and to dispose of food waste properly while in the park.
Current by-laws and enforcement abilities will be reviewed to clarify and update current restrictions when it comes to feeding wildlife.
The Park Board is asking the public to "help keep wildlife wild by changing certain behaviours that are known to have contributed to this highly disturbing and unprecedented situation, to ensure it does not happen again.”
If you are approached by a coyote
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Face the animal and make yourself big, stand tall, arms stretched and do not run
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Speak loudly and make noise (but do not scream)
To report feeding of coyotes or aggressive coyote behaviour, contact the BC Conservation Officer Service RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277.
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