It is winter and coyotes are less active right now but that doesn't mean they are gone.

They are predators that are out and about and they are animals that take advantage of opportunities.

Parks Manager for the Town of Okotoks Christa Michailuck says there are ways to prevent attracting them.

"The main precautions we tell people is to keep things like garbage and composts secured or in the garage and to not keep pet food out." Michailuck says.

She says that coyotes still are a predator and opportunistic and they could attack things like a cat or small dog.

"Their preference would certainly be more native prey like the snowshoe hair and other animals that reside in our open spaces."

Michailuck says that they will go after a deer especially if the deer is already injured or weakened.

"They are opportunistic so they prefer something that is wounded, injured or even dead."

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