TORONTO, June 24, 2026 – Durham Regional Police confirmed on June 24 that a young child was bitten by a coyote on June 22 in a public area near woodland around Coronation Road and Rossland Road in Whitby. The child was accompanied by their parents and was taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a Toronto-area medical facility. The child is currently in stable condition. Families who regularly take young children or small pets near woodlands, trails and newly developed areas should keep them within sight at all times.
Police notified animal services and public health officials, who are assessing the incident and monitoring wildlife activity in the area. Police also reminded residents that coyotes are generally more active around dawn and dusk and may become aggressive when threatened or cornered.
The incident follows several recent encounters involving coyotes and young people across the Greater Toronto Area. In May, a 16-year-old girl was bitten near a residential area in Markham. In June, York Regional Police received several reports of concerning coyote behaviour in Markham, including an incident in which a child was scratched at a playground.
The Town of Whitby warns that feeding coyotes can cause them to gradually lose their fear of humans and may increase the risk of attacks on small pets or children. Garbage, pet food, fallen fruit and unsecured compost can also become food sources. Feeding coyotes is prohibited by the town.
When visiting trails and parks, families should keep small pets leashed and nearby, and should not allow young children to approach bushes or the edges of wooded areas alone. Anyone who sees a coyote should not approach, feed it or attempt to take close-up photographs. People should also avoid turning and running. Instead, they should keep their distance, make themselves appear larger and slowly leave the area.
Anyone who is scratched or bitten should seek medical attention as soon as possible and report the time and location of the incident to local animal services and public health officials. Simply seeing a coyote does not necessarily require an emergency call. However, residents should call 911 or local police if the animal approaches people, follows children, behaves abnormally or is actively attacking.
Families living near wooded areas can also inspect their yards, remove possible food sources and keep garbage containers securely closed. Anyone planning to visit the area where the incident occurred, or other locations with frequent coyote activity, should check the latest municipal and police advisories rather than relying only on past experience.（LJI by Yuanyuan）
