Photo: Kirst Racich Kirst Racich with her seven-month-old dog, Vivian, in West Kelowna A woman from West Kelowna says she was charged with an aggressive coyote near Rose Valley Elementary School last week. Kirst Racich says she was walking her dog on June 18, just before noon, when a coyote fell on her and her dog. He called the experience “intense”. Racich says she has lived her whole life in the Rose Valley area of West Kelowna and has never seen a coyote act so aggressively. “I ended up hiding under a fence and being chased for about 15-20 minutes, and we were actually attacked at one point.” Racich says she called Rose Valley Elementary to let them know, but they had already been notified that there was an aggressive coyote in the area. At that point, Racich began to move away from the area and eventually began making her way home. “I have lived in this area for almost 33 years and I have never seen a coyote so aggressive outside during the day. I have seen bears during the day and they usually go on with their lives and they do not really care, but this coyote was not afraid. “I have never been so scared in my life,” says Racich. Coyotes can be aggressive when protecting their young and people with small pets are advised to hold them on a leash and keep their pets inside to protect them. According to the provincial website, If a wolf or a coyote approaches you:
Make yourself look as big as possible – if you are sitting, for example, stand. Shake your hands and throw objects at the wolf or coyote. Shout at the wolf or coyote in a loud, aggressive voice. If the wolf or coyote continues to approach, do not run or turn your back. Continue to exaggerate the above gestures and slowly move on to safety.
