A two-year-old boy sustained serious injuries after an unprovoked coyote attack at a Whitby, Ontario, playground on Sunday evening. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. at Vanier Park, located at 99 Vanier Street. The child was playing in the playground when a coyote entered the area and bit him in the face. His guardian and several bystanders intervened, scaring the animal away. The child was transported to a local hospital with serious, non-life-threatening injuries.
Less than an hour later, at approximately 9:20 p.m., a second coyote was found in distress near Harriet Street and Annes Street. Residents located the animal, and officers removed it from the area. No injuries were reported in connection with this incident.
This attack follows a series of similar incidents in the Greater Toronto Area. In May and June, three other children were injured in separate coyote attacks in Whitby and Markham. Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant, especially near parks and trails during dawn and dusk when coyotes are most active. Residents are advised to keep pets leashed, supervise children closely, remove food attractants, and report sightings to Whitby’s online tracking tool or call 911 if a coyote poses an immediate threat.
Durham Regional Police are collaborating with the Town of Whitby, the Health Department, and Whitby Animal Services to investigate these incidents, monitor coyote activity, and implement measures to reduce future encounters. While aggressive coyote behavior is rare, these incidents are being taken very seriously.
Residents are encouraged to report coyote sightings and concerning behavior to Animal Services to help monitor trends and take appropriate actions. Whitby sightings can be reported through the town's online coyote tracking tool.
The safety of the community remains a top priority, and authorities are committed to ensuring residents are informed and protected from wildlife encounters.