City officials are reminding Edmontonians of the best ways to avoid a nasty encounter with a coyote – an animal known to prowl city streets.

The city said coyotes have been a major presence within city limits for some time, and are often seen in the river valley.

However, recently, the creatures have been spotted more often in residential neighbourhoods – and the city has been fielding an increasing number of calls from concerned residents.

These days, as Edmonton grows, more coyotes have been adapting to finding food sources in residential areas – eating anything they can find, such as garbage, fruit, and accessible pet food.

Officials said it would be virtually impossible, and not a good idea, to remove the animals from the area.

“Coyotes are extremely adaptable animals that play an important role in maintaining healthy urban ecosystems,” City of Edmonton Park Ranger Ramsey Cox said in a press release. “Our focus is to balance citizen safety with a compassionate perspective of wildlife in urban areas.”

As a result, the city has been working with Alberta Fish and Wildlife on strategies to co-exist with them.

Experts said coyotes will avoid humans, unless they learn humans can provide food sources – or if they are protecting their food or den.

However, there are ways to prevent an encounter with a coyote; the city gave the following tips to residents:

  • Take garbage out only on the morning of waste collection
  • Clean up fruit that has fallen from trees, or bird seed spilled from feeders on the ground
  • Don’t keep pet food outside
  • Keep your dog on a leash when walking in areas where coyotes have been known to frequent
  • Small dogs should not be left in the yard for long periods of time
  • Don’t leave cats out to roam

More information on coyotes, and what to do if you encounter one, can be found by calling the Edmonton Coyote Information Hotline at 780-644-5744, or by visiting any of the attached links.

Report a coyote problem by calling City of Edmonton Park Rangers at 780-496-2950 or Alberta Fish and Wildlife at 780-427-3574. However, if someone is in danger, call 911.