In Christie Pits, Alice Kent habitually leaves her back door ajar for her cleaner every Tuesday evening. However, during a recent visit, an unexpected guest sneaked in alongside the cleaner. What Kent initially thought was a fox turned out to be a baby coyote lounging on her bedroom mattress.

Toronto has witnessed a surge in human-coyote encounters in recent years, with nine reported coyote bites since 2020. This increase prompted Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik to propose an urgent action plan in February 2025. Subsequent attacks, including incidents in Whitby where a child and a two-year-old were bitten, have triggered public concern and spurred discussions on coyote management strategies.

Although Kent found the coyote pup endearing at first, concerns for her family’s safety quickly overshadowed any initial charm. The realization of potential dangers, coupled with the pup’s mange condition, prompted Kent to seek help from both 911 and the Toronto Wildlife Centre.

Close encounters with coyotes are not uncommon in Christie Pits, attributed in part to ongoing feeding practices that alter coyotes’ behavior. When authorities responded to Kent’s call, they found the coyote pup hiding under the bed. Identified as part of a sick coyote family suffering from social sarcoptic mange, the pup was safely retrieved and treated on-site before being released back into the vicinity.

Kent had previously noticed three coyote pups frequenting her back deck and had been advised by the Wildlife Centre to deter them. Strategies to manage unwanted coyotes include removing food sources, monitoring pets, and creating loud disturbances. The Wildlife Centre emphasizes reporting only sick coyotes and stresses the need for further research to ascertain the city’s coyote population accurately.