Disoriented coyote spotted at Spryfield Shopping Centre euthanized

Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources says a coyote that was running into windows and chasing people at the Spryfield Shopping Centre on Saturday has been euthanized.

"Staff responded to address concerns that the animal may be acting abnormally and may be injured or a threat to public safety," Patricia Jreige, a spokesperson for the department, said in an email Tuesday.

"Considering the behaviour could be associated with a neurological disease, the decision was made to humanely euthanize the coyote."

Jreige said some neurological diseases in wildlife can result in concerning behaviours and, in some cases, can be transmitted to people, pets or other wild animals.

She said trained staff placed the coyote under anesthesia so that it could be "humanely and safely transported to a more appropriate location to be humanely euthanized."

The coyote will be submitted to the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, a network dedicated to wildlife health, for further testing.