At a meeting July 20, it was revealed that, allegedly, behind every one's back, Whitby called their contract trapper to kill two coyotes after the bite incidents.  The news media is keeping silent on this.​  However, you can watch the entire meeting video recording here.

I called Whitby Animal Services and they were completely blindsided.  They were told that the coyotes would not be killed, yet a trapper was called in without their knowledge.   They love all animals and were devastated to hear about the cull.

Please help Whitby Animal Services in whatever way you can. They get hardly any support from the Town of Whitby.

The method of testing which coyote may have bitten the children is very crude.  Staff will go to the area and if a coyote doesn't immediately run off, or growls at the staffer or trapper, it is assumed this coyote is "habituated" and must have bitten the child.  This is completely illogical.

The most likely killing method is to leghold trap the coyotes, then shoot them in the lungs so they drown in their own blood. This is to reduce blood scent that might deter other coyotes, and to preserve brain tissue for rabies testing. 

According to an article in the Toronto Star dated July 12, 2026, it was stated that Whitby said that had no plan to harm the coyotes. This was misinformation from the City of Whitby.  I had made several calls to Whitby Animal Services and Durham Regional Police Services and they all said the only coyote removed or euthanized was one injured animal unrelated to the incident.  They had misinformation stating that there was no trapper. However, on a press conference today at 4pm, it was revealed by the City of Whitby that they always have a trapper on retainer, and that a trapper set traps and allegedly shot two random coyotes after the bite incidents.

Kate Novia from Animal Services herself said there was no way they could pinpoint the exact animals; she even claims to have spent all night in the park after the bites and no animals could be found.  

There was no proof of which coyotes actually bit; no DNA, no photography, only "aggressive" behaviour in the traps.  Well anyone would've been aggressive in a leghold trapped or snare.  The concept of "aggression" in Whitby can be based on normal coyote behaviour like shadowing.  I am horrified at the lack of transparency and the fact that a trapper can come and trap and even shoot animals without prior telling the public.  The revenge killing was only revealed during a Q and A after several city Councillors asked why animals were not being trapped and killed.  This information likely slipped out by accident. 

After two human bite incidents that injured children, Whitby is upgrading its coyote safetyplan.  They want to add a bite report form to the coyote sightings form.

The City of Whitby has a trapper on retainer for coyotes.  This is not in line with the progressive Coyote Coexistence Strategy that discourages trapping and promotes humane non lethal methods.  

Whitby Animal Services is humane, and does not kill animals.  They educate the public, do an area audit, and remove attractants to prevent incidents. 

Sadly, some residents wanted a cruel and ineffective lethal approach, similar to other cities like Markham. They want the province to make it easier for hunters and trappers to kill coyotes in urban areas. This is not realistic for a number of reasons. For one, municipalities can already hire anyone they want on city property. They can not legally send a hunter or trapper to private property.  ​

But most cities do not hire hunters and trappers for safety reasons. Leghold traps, coneybear kill traps, and snares are dangerous to the public. Coyotes generally avoid box traps. Shooting is cruel and dangerous. ​

The uptick in sightings has to do with seasonal trends.  Coyotes are leaving the dens to go to rendezvous sites.  Additionally, the same coyote is often sighted and added to the sightings map by multiple people.  ​

These arguments for lethal removal or invasive measures are absurd. Coyotes can not be muzzled like domestic dogs, who would take the muzzle on and off? Suggesting they kill them like rabid dogs is absurd too. Coyotes are not rabies vectors, and antemortem rabies tests are not legally available for non human animals in North America. Therefore, creating a bylaw requirement for rabid animals is unenforceable. We ask people to contact council and ask them to research cruelty free coexistence methods of wildlife management.​

For the Regional Councillor in Whitby, Ontario, you can reach him at leahyc@whitby.ca​

On July 5th, 2026, a coyote bit a 2 year old boy on the face at the Vanier Playground. The coyote was successfully hazed by residents and the boy is recovering from non life threatening injuries. This incident happened at 8:30pm. One has to ask why a 2 year old was out at that time. Unfortunately, this was leaked to social media, leading to mass hysteria. A gentle coyote 3 kilometres away at Harriet Street and Anne's Street was "removed" by police after panicked phone calls from distressed residents at 9:30pm. He or she never bit anyone. 

Killing coyotes is ineffective in preventing future bites.   It creates a false sense of security in humans, leading to people being less careful.  Culling breaks up and traumatizes coyotes, thus making them psychologically fragile and actually more likely to bite.  Coyotes are quickly replaced, leading to more mating pairs, and the new coyotes produce more, and may conflict with the remaining coyotes.  

We would like the independent organization National Wildlife Centre to provide a humane 24/7 animal ambulance so that any animal in distress can receive a peaceful response. ​

I have named the coyote who was "removed" by police Pax.​  Please post complaints about Pax's "removal" using this form.​

According to CBC News, Pax was allegedly "euthanized" due to injuries. According to DRPS, injured animals may be shot by police if the police respond.  After hours, only police respond to any animal calls.  Police don't often use tasers on animals, and have no access to nets, carriers, catch poles, or tranquilizers.  Police are only given guns, and have absolutely no training on humane animal services.  Deer and other animals who are injured in road accidents are merely shot by police, rather than rescued.  One of the police officers in Durham said in a phone call that they allegedly like shooting coyotes for fun in their spare time, so they can have more deer to shoot.  

Whitby said that there was NO plan to capture or kill the coyotes who bit the toddlers.  This turned out to be misinformation.

Whitby Animal Services is not connected to the Durham Regional Police Services in any way, shape, or form. 

Whitby Animal Services is furious about the cull and wants the City of Whitby to stop all lethal responses.  

Please contact the Mayor and City Council and request that all levels of government ban trapping and shooting and instead use a humane hands off approach. 

Ask that Whitby Animal Services are the first responder all animals in distress calls, instead of police.  A rescue should be present as a first responder for all animal related calls.  Ask that the council develop a no kill Wildlife Coexistence Policy and contract with Coyote Watch Canada.​

Heber Conservation Park has a good approach. Like Ottawa, they have closed the park to allow the coyotes to move out on their own.  We would like a similar approach for the playground, to close it until the coyotes leave on their own.

The coyote who bit the toddler on July 5th appears to have mange. This means there are probably rodenticides in the area. Whitby needs to ban rodenticides and treat the coyote for mange.

Imagine my heartbreak when I learned that a family of coyotes was relentlessly hunted down and killed in Markham. This tragic event occurred weeks after a 5 year old child was bitten.   Children love animals and don't want them harmed. One 8 year old boy in Markham created an animal sighting map after he was sad about the cull.

On June 22, 2026 an incident had happened in Whitby, where a 1 year old boy was  bitten by a coyote.   The coyote who bit the 1 year old ran off into the woods and was never located.  However, two coyotes were murdered out of frustration after not finding them after the two bite incidents.

Police do not always respond peacefully either.​

The city of Whitby even admits that these coyotes were only trying to protect their puppies and didn't mean to hurt toddlers. Fortunately coyotes are leave their natal dens now. Please ask the City of Whitby to manage animals peacefully without destruction.​  The City of Ottawa managed a child bite case without harming or killing a single coyote. Ottawa instead chose to close the affected park and trail until the pups left their den on their own. ​

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/local/durham/article/child-to-hospital-after-coyote-bite-in-whitby/

Coyotes are an integral part of our ecosystem, providing vital ecological benefits. Yet, when incidents like this occur, the knee-jerk reaction often leads to a violent response, a solution that is neither effective nor humane.  Whitby allegedly has a terrible track record when it comes to coyotes, even rumours of the town killing an entire family in 2024.​

While the Mayor wants to do something, we request this proposed strategy is 100% non lethal and humane.​ Ask Mayor Elizabeth Roy to create a no kill solution at the next Community Safety Roundtable.​  Please comment on Mayor Elizabeth Roy's post.

According to a study by the Humane Society of the United States, lethal control methods such as trapping or shooting are not only cruel but also generally ineffective at addressing human-wildlife conflicts in the long term. These methods can also inadvertently harm children, pets, and other wildlife.   Bullets often ricochet off the animal and can hit members of the public.  Traps often injure non target animals and cause suffering for all animals.  Coyotes are reluctant to enter cage traps, so often leghold traps and snares are used.

We must recognize that killing coyotes does not address the root cause of these interactions. It is crucial to focus on removing attractants, such as food scraps and open garbage, which draw coyotes closer to human habitats. Effective educational programs, diligent waste management, and community engagement can foster a cohabitative relationship between humans and coyotes.

In Ottawa, successful non-lethal programs have demonstrated that coexistence is possible through public education and conscious deterrence strategies. Communities there have implemented plans that include securing garbage, constructing coyote-proof fences, and employing passive hazing techniques. These methods not only ensure the safety of children and pets but also preserve wildlife.

If we can prevent future incidents and live harmoniously with coyotes in Ottawa, there is no reason Whitby cannot achieve the same. Let's urge the City of Whitby to put into official policies comprehensive, humane management plans that focus on prevention and coexistence.

Sign this petition and join me in advocating for humane and non-lethal solutions to ensure a safe and compassionate approach to wildlife management in Whitby. Together, we can bring positive change for our community and wildlife alike. Your support can make a difference.