Wolf, coyote sightings prompt warnings in Thompson

Pet owners in a northern manitoba community are on alert after an unusual number of coyotes and wolf sightings over the last two weeks.

There have been 10 reports of either coyotes or wolves being spotted in and around the city limits of Thompson during the past two weeks.

At least one dog was killed after its owner let it out at night.

"The dog was let out loose, just to go to the washroom in the middle of the night and there happened to be a coyote close by and basically grabbed it and ran away with it," said Lyle Saskowski, regional services superintendent with Manitoba Conservation.

He said the animals tend to hunt at night, so he's asking pet owners to keep their animals inside as much as possible.

If people want to walk at night, Saskowski suggested "that they just do so in well-lit areas and carry some noisemakers or whistles, or air horns or some other deterrents."

There's no food shortage in the woods but the coyotes and wolves are likely drawn to town because of the high number of pets, and pet food being left outside, Saskowski said.

Trappers have caught one wolf and one coyote so far.

Thompson is located 740 kilometres north of Winnipeg.