a king among coyotes//

Farewell, old friend: An obituary for Kip the Coyote

Kip the Coyote wasn’t just another furry friend on UBC campus — from sunbathing on the lawns of Place Vanier to chasing squirrels down Main Mall, Kip has touched the hearts of UBC students for years.

It is with a heavy heart that we report Kip passed away sometime during the first weekend of October.

Although the passing of this beloved UBC critter has left students heartbroken, Kip’s death has helped us gain a better understanding of other wild creatures in urban spaces, including those living at UBC.

Not only was Kip a campus icon, he was also a perfect representation of how animals and humans interact, especially in a heavily populated area such as Point Grey. His life will hopefully lead to further insight on how we can encourage wildlife protection and conservation.

“Kip will now help us learn more about how urban coyotes survive and thrive in these harsh environments," wrote UBC’s Animal Behavior and Cognition (ABC) Lab in an Instagram post. "His previous injury, likely from a vehicle strike, and ability to heal and survive, tells the story of how urban wildlife face both hindrance and help from life in cities."

“His memory will live on as we use what we learn from him to better understand urban wildlife and the challenges they face.”

Kip was known around campus for his three-legged limp and for being friendly toward residents and other students. His popularity was cemented by reposts and comments from both the official UBC and AMS Instagram pages, both paying respects to Kip, writing, “Rest in peace Kip,” and “Fly high Kip,” respectively.

Students are also mourning Kip’s death in the comment section under the ABC Lab’s post.

Instagram user ziggycross wrote, “Your presence never failed to brighten my day and the joy you brought to our community was infectious. You were the goodest boy and I hope you could tell how much you were loved.”

Another Instagram user aidanabramsschwartz added, “RIP Kip, we will miss you, and although you might have not known it, you left a noticeable impact on many students and staffers here at UBC. You will be missed. ❤️🐺❤️.”

Over 250 comments were left under ABC Lab’s post, the majority of them saying goodbye to a beloved part of campus culture.

Kip wasn’t just another coyote. He was recognized by students during their walks to class and talked about in Vanier's dorms — he even had an Instagram account dedicated to him.

Students grew up with Kip through their time at UBC. While we went through hard classes, friendship breakups, failing finals and walking home late at night, Kip was always there to brighten someone’s day. Whether it was “making my first year so special,” as Instagram user rachelyu wrote, or “see[ing] him out my window almost every morning,” as user _jasminbajwa7 wrote, Kip never failed to bring a bit of extra joy to our campus.

If you take away one thing from the passing of our beloved Kip, it should be to remain conscious of your interactions with wildlife. While driving down the road at night or debating giving some of your sandwich to a squirrel, bear in mind that your actions have consequences, and we owe our wildlife the best shot we can give them.

Rest in Peace, Kip. You will be missed.