UMVA has learned that a terrifying encounter with a wild animal has left a 16-year-old girl in Markham hospitalized with minor injuries after being bitten by a coyote.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:15 a.m. in the area of Mingay and Bur Oak Aves, with York Regional Police responding to the scene. The girl's condition and the circumstances surrounding the attack are still under investigation.
According to information obtained by UMVA, the City of Markham's animal services team is actively investigating the incident in coordination with York Regional Police, with a continued focus on community safety. The city's animal services team will be patrolling the area over the next few days, as well as installing and increasing signage in the area.
The city has not released details on whether the coyote approached the teen or if the teen had any interaction with the animal beforehand. However, officials stress that residents need to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to avoid encounters with wild animals.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that the city is taking proactive measures to educate residents on how to respond if they encounter a coyote. Information is being shared through the city's social media channels to help raise awareness and provide residents with clear guidance on safety tips and contact information for reporting coyote sightings.
The city has a comprehensive list of dos and don’ts when it comes to wild animals, advising residents to “make noise, yell, clap your hands, stomp and wave your arms, do not approach the animal and carry a whistle or noisemaker if you are walking in known habitat area.” Most importantly, residents are warned not to put out food for animals, with a $615 fine in Markham for residents caught feeding wild animals.
Several communities and regions in and around the outskirts of the Greater Toronto Area have strategies in place to deal with the intrusion of wild animals in urban settings. Markham, Halton Hills, King City, and Vaughan have all introduced their own plans to coexist with wildlife, including coyote response and coexistence strategies.
