A coyote and her seven pups made themselves right at home under the front steps of a Vancouver house.
Devon Yu lives in Vancouver and first heard about the coyotes living in Arbutus Ridge, next to Trafalgar Park, from a friend.
When Yu arrived on May 18, he noticed several other photographers hoping to catch a glimpse of the wildlife.
"The cubs usually stay hidden under the steps or in the bushes, waiting for their mother to return with food,” said Yu.
He watched as the mother coyote wandered in the back near the laneway but there was no sign of the small pups.
After half an hour of waiting, the mother made another appearance, this time near the front door without any food.
To his surprise, the cubs followed.
"The cubs came out of hiding to play with her,” he said.
The mother left after about two minutes while the cubs stayed back and continued playing on the front lawn for about 40 minutes.
Yu stayed across the street to photograph them.
"It was amazing,” he told Lodestar Media. "I’ve seen coyotes in the city many times, but this was the first time I’ve seen coyote [pups]. I hope they stay safe and healthy and grow up to be strong adult coyotes.”
A nearby neighbour told him the coyote family had been at the house for a while.
He returned the next day to but couldn’t find them.
“They were gone. Maybe they moved on. I believe they’re still somewhere in the area, I just don’t know where they’re hiding now.”
Coyotes thrive in urban environments where there are many sources of food and they are the top predator.
The City of Vancouver said their breeding season is between January and June. During this time, coyotes might be more active and assertive, especially near their dens.
Yu considers himself lucky to have seen the litter.
"They are so cute, just like puppy dogs,” he said. "It’s not the coyotes' fault that they're in the city; they're just trying to survive in a world that's changing around them. The more we understand them, the better we can find ways to co-exist safely.”
Tips on coexisting with coyotes:
- Never intentionally leave food on the ground or offer food to a coyote or other animal.
- Keep your pets on leash except in designated off-leash areas.
- Dispose of waste in bins provided.
- When coyotes lose their fear of humans, your and their safety is at risk.
