Recent wildlife sightings in town have prompted a reminder from Okotoks Municipal Enforcement.

They received a call about a coyote spotted in town that a resident thought appeared to be sick and in distress.

Kelly Stienwand, municipal enforcement manager, says officers responded with RCMP and were able to safely relocate the animal.

"One of our officers recognized that 'no I don't think the animal's sick, he's actually just young and lost' ", he explains. "They were very patient and they were able to build a little bit of a trusting relationship with this young coyote, get close enough to get the loop hole on him and into a cage... they took him out into the wilderness and released him in an appropriate place."

He says residents made the right choice by contacting local authorities as they have the resources to reach out to partner agencies to properly deal with the situation.

According to Stienwand, it's not unusual to see more animals out and about in the cooler seasons.

"It is the rutting season so we'll see more deer running around this time of year, especially the bucks, they're not always thinking straight. They're going to be jumping into people's yards and doing different things so just use good judgement, try not to feed the animals or interact with them at all, just let them do their thing."

He adds residents should try to be conscious of their outdoor garbage and how Christmas decorations are placed for wildlife safety as well.

 

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