In Christie Pits, Alice Kent regularly leaves her back door open for her cleaner on Tuesday evenings. One day, as she welcomed the cleaner into her home, they were both surprised to find an unexpected visitor – a baby coyote lounging on the bed in the master bedroom.

Although initially amused by the sight, Kent’s amusement quickly turned to concern for the safety of her family and the animal itself. Worried about the potential danger posed by the coyote, especially considering its mange condition, she promptly contacted both 911 and the Toronto Wildlife Centre for assistance.

This incident is not an isolated one in the neighborhood, as Nathalie Karvonen, the executive director of the Toronto Wildlife Centre, highlighted the ongoing issue of coyote feeding in the area. Feeding coyotes can alter their behavior, making them less fearful of humans and residential areas.

When the authorities arrived at Kent’s home, they located the coyote pup hiding under the bed. The Toronto Wildlife Centre team was familiar with this particular coyote family due to their illness, and they swiftly retrieved the pup for assessment and treatment on-site before releasing it back into its habitat.

Kent mentioned that she had previously noticed a group of coyote pups frequenting her property and had been advised by the Wildlife Centre to deter them. Karvonen emphasized the importance of removing food sources, monitoring pets, and creating noise to discourage unwanted coyote interactions.

The Wildlife Centre focuses on tracking sick coyotes in Toronto, with the exact population numbers remaining uncertain. Karvonen suggested that a substantial study would be required to accurately assess the city’s coyote population.