Coyote Spotted in Town; DNR Says Be Cautious

A coyote spotted around town this year should not pose a threat to humans, a biologist says, but people should exercise caution.

Rex Ainslie of Newberry, Department of Natural Resources wildlife supervisor for the Eastern Upper Peninsula, warns that people should not feed the coyote. They should treat it like a stray dog and not make contact with it.

While there is a possibility the animal is diseased, the only way to test the coyote would be

to kill it. More likely, he said, it is used to living in close proximity to humans and has lost some fear of them.

The Mackinac Island Police Department, he noted, is aware of the animal and already has contacted the DNR. There is not likely to be any action taken unless the coyote becomes a nuisance or harms someone, he said.

Several coyotes usually live on the Island. Residents believe there are three of them here this summer.