Ontario Premier Doug Ford was in a howlin' good mood with reporters on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, as he shared an unusual tip for dealing with nuisance coyotes. During a media scrum at Queen's Park, Ford recounted an incident near his home where he howled like a wolf to scare off a group of coyotes.
The premier's anecdote came in response to questions about recent coyote attacks in the Greater Toronto Area. "I have them in my backyard," Ford said. "You know, you're ready to walk your dog out there and we have a coyote problem. You're gonna think the cheese slipped off the cracker with me, but one night I'm sitting there and they must have made a kill and they're screeching — I don't know if you've ever heard them — they're screeching."
Howled like a wolf
Ford revealed his wily response: "So I went out there and I howled like a wolf. They stopped instantly," he said. "No, honestly. I gotta tape this for you guys. They stopped instantly cause they figured a big wolf was around the corner."
A reporter then asked the premier to recreate the wolf howl. Ford obliged shortly before entering the caucus room at Queen's Park.
Recent coyote attacks
The issue has come to the forefront again after recent high-profile coyote attacks in the GTA. York Regional Police issued a warning after a six-year-old girl was reportedly attacked in Markham on Sunday night. A 16-year-old girl was also taken to a hospital with minor injuries after being bitten by a coyote last Thursday, once again in Markham.
Coyotes are common in the GTA and officials have warned pet owners to keep their animals indoors at night and not to let them roam off property. If you encounter one yourself, don't turn your back and don't run. Stay calm, wave your hands and make lots of noise as you slowly back away. Coyotes usually like to keep their distance from people, but should the animal pose a threat to public safety, call 911.
Coyotes usually like to leave people alone. Photo by Brent Calver /Postmedia Network
