A horse bitten by a pack of coyotes in Maple Ridge did not die from the attack, according to the B.C. Conservation Service.

A conservation officer and RCMP responded quickly to a property on 128th Avenue near 216th Street after receiving a call on Halloween about a horse being attacked by almost a dozen coyotes.

Leona Oosterveen discovered the pack around 7 a.m. after being woken up by her dogs.

In a post on the Horse B.C. forums, she said the coyotes scattered when she opened the paddock gate to discover Stanley, her 18-month-old quarter horse, lying on his side.

Oosterveen cut off his blanket and soon discovered the coyotes had bitten Stanley on his hind quarters.

Her husband stayed with the horse while she called a vet.

While on the phone, Oosterveen said up to eight coyotes charged her six-foot-tall husband, prompting her to call police and the conservation service.

Ridge Meadows RCMP arrived within minutes and escorted the vet into the field, while up to 15 coyotes lurked in the background.

Stanley, the horse, passed away before the vet could patch him up.

“It was a sick horse and the coyotes took advantage of it,” said Jack Trudgian, the conservation officer who responded to the call.

“I have never heard of coyotes bringing down a horse. They are just too big.”

Trudgian said the horse had colic and was rolling in pain before it was attacked.

“It didn’t die from the wounds. It either died from colic, possible distress or a heart attack, and that was confirmed by the [attending] vet,” he added.

The coyotes were scared away from the area by the time Trudgian responded.

He advises residents to bring livestock and pets in at night or make sure they are housed in secure pens, which keep coyotes out.

Trudgian said a conservation officer will shoot a coyote if it is sick, injured or aggressive.

“Unlike bears, it is hard to trap coyotes. There are lots of them around, so we are just going to have to learn to co-exist.”

Prevent conflict:

Preventing conflict with coyotes:

· do not leave children unattended in an area where coyotes have been previously observed;

· don’t feed coyotes, it’s against the law and leads to habituation and food conditioning);

· do not provide access to garbage;

· prevent access to fruit trees and compost;

· feed pets inside, or if fed outside, be sure to clean up any left over or spilled food and store food inside;

· use electric fencing or other coyote proof fences around livestock and other attractants;

· if certain coyotes are persistent and all other attempts to prevent threats to have failed, it may be necessary to trap and kill some coyotes, helping others regain fear of people – however, prevention must be maintained as other coyotes will often fill these vacancies.

What to do:

· never attempt to “tame” a coyote;

· never feed a coyote;

· do not turn your back and run from a coyote;

· leave the area calmly;

· if followed by a coyote, make loud noises (yelling “get away coyote” will inform others of what is occurring), make yourself look as big as possible, and maintain eye contact;

· if the coyote continues to follow, throw handfuls of dirt, rocks, sticks (whatever is available) at the ground next to the coyote, then, if necessary, towards the body of the coyote.