🛑 We’re Not Safe: Residents Demand Action on Coyote Crisis in Fort York & Liberty Village

This is a petition directed at Mayor Olivia Chow and Deputy Mayor & Councillor Ausma Malik to take immediate action to remove habituated coyote(s) from Fort York & Liberty Village neighbourhoods (Toronto, Canada).

📝 Enough is enough. It's time to restore safety in our neighbourhoods.

For the past five months (November 2024 – March 2025), Fort York and Liberty Village residents have endured a growing public safety crisis due to habituated coyotes—wild predators that have lost their natural fear of humans. Despite following the City of Toronto’s guidance to “co-exist,” attacks have increased dramatically. Residents continue to follow city recommendations:

• Carrying umbrellas to “haze” coyotes, while charging towards coyotes
• Using green garbage bags as deterrents
• Carrying air horns, whistles, and sticks
• Buying body armour for dogs (i.e., coyote vests and spike collars)

But these measures have failed.
We are now facing 90+ dog attacks, 4 tragic dog deaths, and 1 confirmed human attack. Coyotes continue to aggressively hunt dogs of all sizes at all hours—including on sidewalks, in parks, and even at the doorsteps of buildings. Their behaviour is escalating. Just two weeks ago, a German Shepherd was hunted by three coyotes in Garrison Commons.

❗ The Problem: Pseudo-Science Is Being Used to Justify Inaction
The March 18, 2025 ‘Downtown Coyote Action Plan’, presented by the City of Toronto and drafted by a so-called expert wildlife panel, echoes ineffective strategies used in other urban centres—and lacks any real science behind it.

🔎 Key issues with the city’s plan:

• 3 weeks of rushed work on a complex issue
• 6 residents interviewed out of 136,000+ in the riding
• 2 hours of field research, with no coyotes observed
• 0 dens identified
• 2 major conflicts of interest: The "independent experts" are linked to pro-wildlife activist groups
• 0 scientific data collection tools: No GPS tracking, no camera traps, no ecological assessments

This plan does not meet the standards of a world-class city. It is not science—it is pseudo-science, and it puts our community at risk.

🔊 We, the undersigned, are calling for:
 ✅ Immediate removal of habituated coyotes from Fort York & Liberty Village
 ✅ A science-based, field-researched wildlife assessment led by accredited experts, not volunteer activists
 ✅ Clear timelines and measurable outcomes for restoring community safety
 ✅ Transparency in reporting, with accountability from city officials

🧍‍♀️ As parents, dog owners, runners, swimmers, cyclists, and residents…
We have changed our routines. We live in fear. We’ve co-existed with urban wildlife for years—but these coyotes are not typical urban wildlife. They hunt in packs, sneak up from behind, and attack during the day.

The Coyote Safety Coalition has rallied to collect robust data, and the community has shared their stories. We have introduced precautionary measures to help us navigate this dangerous situation, including:

• Changing walking routes, running paths, and swimming spots to avoid known coyote hotspots
• Walking dogs only in groups, known as “pack walks”
• Creating online safety maps and incident trackers
• Sharing real-time coyote sightings in an alerts chat

We do not accept the pseudo-science of the current Downtown Coyote Action Plan. We do not want to wait until another human is injured—or worse.

We demand action now.

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Sign this petition to urge Mayor Olivia Chow and Deputy Mayor & Councillor Ausma Malik to act now—before another tragedy occurs.

The Coyote Safety Coalition 
www.coyotesafetytoronto.ca

📢 Share this petition with your neighbours, friends, and local groups to help us restore safety in Fort York & Liberty Village.

Every signature matters—and your voice could help prevent the next attack. #CoyoteSafetyTO

Sources:

• https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2025.EC18.8 Deputy Mayor & Councillor Ausma Malik requested a "third party panel of wildlife experts with extensive field-based expertise" (February 26, 2025).
• https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/8fb1-Consolidated-Summary-Report-Expert-Panel-on-Coyotes-in-Fort-York-Liberty-Village-FINAL.pdf The 'Downtown Coyote Action Plan' recommendation is for residents to continue "adaptive aversion condition (AC)” (March 18, 2025).
• https://www.ausmamalik.ca/coyotes Hazing techniques and body armour recommended by the city (November 2024, February 2025).