Den discovered at Burnaby elementary school

A coyote has made a den for her pups beneath a portable at Burnaby's Marlborough Elementary, causing concern for local residents, although a conservation officer said there's no danger to the children.

Bruce Causier, a local wildlife videographer, said he filmed a coyote on Sunday at Marlborough and spotted a dug-out den beneath a portable at the school.

"It wasn't an aggressive coyote, but when a coyote has pups with her, it can be aggressive," he said on Monday afternoon.

The den's entrance is beneath the portable's ramp.

"I just hope the school reacts quickly, closing the area off," he said.

Dean Archambault lives directly across the street from the portable and said he saw two coyote pups on the ramp at about 6 a.m. on Monday morning. He called the school and left a message on the answering machine with a warning about the animals.

"If a mother is going to protect her babies, she will attack humans," Archambault told the NOW. "I would say there should be concern for the kids, because the mother is in here watching."

Archambault said the mother coyote was keeping crows at bay Monday morning, and the two pups played.

"They were cute," he said. "They were playing like kittens."

Archambault said he has heard howling at night for the past two or three weeks. He suspects the coyotes are attracted to rats around the neighbours' outdoor compost heap.

The school district's communications manager Jodie Wilson said conservation officers have confirmed the area is a staging den only and not their primary den.

"Holes under the portable are being skirted now by district staff, so it is no longer accessible," she said in an email to the NOW. "The French language preschool that is in the portable, and is not a part of the school district, has been invited to relocate to Marlborough for Tuesday."

Dave Cox, a conservation officer with the B.C. Environment Ministry, visited the den Monday afternoon.

"They try and establish a few staging areas, an area where they can comfortably hang out and feel safe," he said. "This coyote may be using this particular area on the school grounds during the weekends, when there are not too many kids."

It's important for people to understand we do have wildlife in our urban environment, Cox said.

"It's as equally important for people in Burnaby to look after their attractants properly," he added.

Attractants can include garbage, compost, household pets and rodents.

"Anything that's a food source for them is essentially what keeps them there. They'll choose an area based on food availability," he said.

As for the children, Cox said they are not in danger as the coyote shows no signs of aggression and has not been approaching people.

"There's nothing that's led us to believe this is a public-safety issue," he said. "We're really low on the conflict level."

Causier returned to the den site Monday evening and caught footage of the coyote pups under the den.

To see Bruce Causier's most recent video of the coyote pups, go to Jennifer Moreau's blog at www.burnabynow.com.