In the vicinity of Mission, the escalating frequency of coyote attacks continues as two additional incidents have been cited, ratcheting up the total to nine. Remarkably, one of the fresh victims was a member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Todd Hunter, a local conservation officer, details that the policeman was targeted en route to work, the event unfolding in the detachment’s parking lot. Efforts unfolded in a bid to neutralize the present threat, however, all attempts to capture and euthanize the coyote proved fruitless.
The brazen episode transpired on a quiet Monday morning, eerily succeeding a related incident in the adjacent parking lot of the popular retail outlet, Walmart. There, an unsuspecting victim anxiously awaiting a car ride to work fell prey to a coyote attack. He recounted the chilling episode with striking simplicity, “It just came in and bit my leg.”
Quite remarkably, the aftermath of each unnerving encounter posed minor threats as each of the victims suffered non-extensive injuries. Both victims, however, were transported to the nearby hospital, having sustained primarily bite and puncture wounds to their legs.
The extended wave of attacks chronicles back to earlier this month, involving a local, Matt Dirksen, who was ambushed while at work. Confronted with a large, intimidating coyote, he was left in shock as he recounted the harrowing ordeal of prying himself free from the coyote’s grip. Shielded by his cowboy boots, Dirksen believes he averted more serious injuries.
Dirksen suspects the incident may be linked to the death of his mother’s pet cat the previous month, hinting at a possible relentless predator. His mother, Kim Dirksen, voices concerns for the stability and safety of the community amidst the increasing attacks.
Local conservation efforts have been amped up in response, with officers maintaining increased patrols in the implicated area. The mission—identifying and subsequently neutralizing the responsible coyotes—however, poses challenges as the culprits are yet to be determined.
Strategizing further prevention, conservation officers strongly believe that human intervention has escalated the natural behavior of the coyotes. As such, anyone found provisioning food to these creatures is liable to face fines or potential court charges, warned Hunter.
Existing fears are exacerbated by the possibility of these aggressive coyotes attacking more vulnerable victims, such as children. As such, residents have been alerted to maintain vigilance, keep their children within a close radius, and securely leash their pets. The local authorities aim to remind the community that such brazen behavior is unusual and infrequent among the local wildlife, reinforcing the need for heightened alertness against these rare occurrences.
