Etobicoke residents rattled by coyotes in Princess Margaret Park

Residents in an Etobicoke neighbourhood have taken to carrying baseball bats, air horns and pepper spray to protect themselves and their pets against a pack of coyotes living in Princess Margaret Park. 

Coyotes have lived in the neighbourhood for several years, but locals say the pack is becoming increasingly aggressive toward them and their dogs. 

"Everybody is walking around with golf clubs, baseball bats, sticks and hockey sticks," said resident Amanda Thomson. 

"Usually, you would think that's a little nerve-wracking to see somebody walking around with that, but they're walking around with their dogs for protection." 

Complaints about coyotes in the area have skyrocketed in July. The city said it has received 27 service requests to 311 about coyotes around the park this year, including 18 last month alone. 

Many houses back onto the park, which includes a forested area with trails where the coyotes live.

The city is hosting a community meeting Thursday evening to discuss concerns about the pack. 

Thomson is planning to attend the meeting, but others are skeptical about what solutions will be discussed. 

"They're not going to tell us something we don't already know," said Donna Dziemianko, who also lives in the neighbourhood.  "They're going to tell us how to co-habitate peacefully with coyotes." 

Since the Canada Day long weekend, the city said it began receiving more reports about coyotes interacting with dogs — including incidents where coyotes attacked and injured pets. 

The city said it does not know why the coyotes are becoming more aggressive toward dogs. 

Residents say a man and his dog were attacked by the pack last month. Both survived, but people in the area are still rattled. 

Dziemianko says she hasn't walked her dog, Dallas, in the park since the attack. 

"It's sad because the park is beautiful," she said. "That's what it's there for — to use. We can't use it because the coyotes live there."