A coyote was spotted on Redwood Avenue near St. Francis School

Thunder Bay - Even a single coyote sighting can cause a stir, but the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) says it has received few coyote-related calls this winter in the Thunder Bay-Ignace area.

Many of the calls they received were related to sightings in a Thunder Bay neighborhood.

In a written statement, the MNR said that in mid-to-late February, it received several reports of unconfirmed coyote sightings in the Northwood area.

The MNR said the public reports indicated the coyote appeared healthy.

Northwood resident Ashley Winter posted on Facebook that as early as January 24, she encountered a coyote while driving home with her daughter.

In a written statement, she said the coyote was spotted on Redwood Avenue near St. Francis School, heading toward Dalhousie Street.

"We thought it was a stray dog, so we decided to follow it. When we got to Dalhousie, we realized it wasn't a dog," Winter said.

"Then we spotted the coyote in Dalhousie Park. That's when I took out my phone and recorded the video."

Winter is not the only resident to have seen a coyote in the area.

Another resident posted on Facebook that they saw a coyote around February 28 on Ryerson Street and Van Horne Street.

The MNR said that when its local office followed up on calls reporting the animal, they were told it had not been seen again, suggesting it was likely just passing through the area.

Nevertheless, the MNR is asking people to always be cautious when coming into contact with wildlife.

If residents encounter a coyote, officials advise that they should:

• Never approach or touch a coyote.
• Do not turn your back on a coyote or run away.
• Stay calm and keep your distance from the coyote.
• Stand tall, wave your arms, and make loud noises.
• Carry a flashlight at night to scare off coyotes.
• Call 911 if a coyote poses a direct threat or danger to public safety.

The MNR added that if people see a coyote, they should keep their distance, as these animals are likely to avoid humans. When walking in areas where coyotes or other wildlife may be present, keep dogs on a leash, as they may see unleashed dogs as a threat or prey.

It also reminded the public not to feed coyotes, as this normally shy animal may become bolder around humans after repeated exposure to human food sources.

Source:  https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/low-number-of-coyote-sightings-this-winter-video-10355878