In addition to the movie theatre, coyotes have been sighted in Regina parks this month. Scott Paton, a regular visitor to Les Sherman Park, had his first encounter with a coyote in mid-August.
Patron described the coyote as not being aggressive but rather curious, possibly searching for food. After spotting the animal, he continued his walk, alerting other park visitors along the way. He mentioned that a woman at the playground had informed him about the presence of a coyote in the area for several weeks.
Although Paton has not seen the coyote since, he mentioned finding scat in the vicinity. Despite this, he expressed no concerns about the animal’s presence.
According to Paton, coyotes are a common sight in the city and are a part of their natural habitat, so he believes the animal will eventually leave on its own.
However, not everyone shares Paton’s comfort level with coyotes in the Cathedral neighborhood.
Residents of the area have been sharing their encounters with coyotes in and around Les Sherman Park and Kiwanis Waterfall Park on Facebook since August.
Several posts describe instances where the coyote approached and followed people and their pets. One woman recounted being chased by a coyote in Les Sherman Park, with the animal circling her and her dog for an extended period.
Other Facebook users mentioned that the coyote appeared comfortable around humans and did not react to attempts to scare it off with loud noises or gestures.
Regina city Coun. David Froh had a close encounter with a coyote during a morning run in Les Sherman Park on Saturday. He noted the animal’s ease in approaching people and their pets.
Froh emphasized that while wildlife sightings are common and usually do not require immediate action, persistent sightings pose a public safety risk that necessitates city staff intervention.
The City of Regina confirmed receiving reports of two coyotes in the neighborhood and is collaborating with provincial conservation officers to safely remove and relocate the animals.
Froh explained that the safe removal of a coyote involves tranquilizing the animal for the community’s and the animal’s safety. Firearms are not discharged in the city, so capturing the animal safely, either through tranquilization or trapping, may take some time.
While acknowledging the concerns surrounding coyote sightings, Froh stressed that such encounters are not uncommon in Regina.
He emphasized the importance of pet and wildlife safety, urging residents to report sightings of coyotes and other potentially hazardous wild animals to the City of Regina.
The film “Coyote vs. Acme,” featuring Will Forte, is currently showing in various Regina theaters. Froh advised the public to report sightings of real-life coyotes and other wildlife that may pose safety risks to the city.
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