Man, dogs swarmed by pack of possible coyotes in park, Winnipeg police say

There's been another possible coyote sighting at a popular off-leash Winnipeg dog park, but at least some regular visitors are having a hard time believing the claim.

Winnipeg police say a man was walking two large dogs Friday evening around 9:30 p.m. in Kilcona Park when he was circled by what looked like three large coyotes.

• Winnipeg dog club left on high alert after coyote scare

The animals reportedly followed the man until he was able to get to his vehicle, but they didn't stop there. They continued to follow the vehicle until he left the park area, police said in a news release Saturday.

Police say they are aware of a number of recent coyote sightings in the Kilcona Park area.

Dog owners skeptical

But Ray MacIsaac said he has doubts about the most recent report.

MacIsaac takes his dogs, Bruno and Becket, to Kilcona Park "pretty much every day" and has never seen coyotes.

"I have a hard time believing it. Possibly if there was absolutely nobody else here, but I doubt it," he said.

"I've never seen anything even close to that. Every once in a while you see a deer running through here but that's about it."

Donna Henry, president of the Kilcona Park Dog Club, said the reported behaviour of the coyotes seems "very unusual."

"I'm really skeptical," Henry said. "And I'm saying that as a person who spent her life working in national parks and also as someone who has spoken to the conservation officers who would be responsible for relocating the animals."

Coyotes are shy and elusive by nature, Henry said, adding details from a previous sighting were markedly different from the most recent report.

"One of our members who lives close to here came to the park two weekends ago and brought his dogs all the way through the park up to the hill, sat down, had a little break and noticed that there was an animal coming toward him that he thought was a dog. Then, he saw a second one and he was waiting for the owner to show up when he saw a third and a fourth one," Henry said.

"He realized there was something out of the ordinary here. He scooped up both of his dogs. He yelled at the coyotes and the coyotes ran away. That's typical behaviour; that's what you would expect; that's what Manitoba Conservation says you should do if you encounter a coyote unexpectedly."

More cautious

Lori Darragh and her dogs Link and Zelda are also regulars to the park. Darragh said she was in the park the first night coyotes were reportedly spotted.

"I'm glad I didn't run into them," she said. "I'm not too worried during the day, but in the evening I think we're a little more cautious now. [We] won't come so late at night anymore."

While Darragh said she is concerned to hear a man was apparently circled by coyotes Friday night, her husband Alan Noakes said he has other dog-related worries in the park.

"Landmines! Picking up after dogs. Don't want to deal with that," he said.

Police are warning dog owners to keep their pets on a leash and pick up small dogs if they are confronted.

Police are asking the public to call them if they encounter coyotes or other dangerous wildlife at either 204-986-6222 if the situation is not an emergency or by calling 911 if they are at immediate risk.

Police say conservation officers have been advised.