DETROIT – Detroit residents are feeling nervous Friday after several sightings of wild coyotes roaming the ctiy's west side.
People said the new neighbors are making them feel unsettled, and they are asking for help.
Residents said they've seen coyotes all over the area. A man took video of a coyote that was standing near his dog.
A coyote was seen dashing down a street near Glendale Avenue and La Salle Boulevard on Detroit's west side. There's tall grass and brush near vacant houses in the area, and the coyotes are thriving.
"I live on Linwood, not in the woods," Leslie Jackson said. "I'm not from the woods."
Jackson said he's been spotting coyotes near his home for a year. He doesn't want them there, so he's called the city and the state for help. But the coyotes are starting to get comfortable.
This week, Lo Lauderdale snapped photos of a coyote on Glendale Avenue as her children told her to roll up the car windows.
She posted the pictures on Facebook, where they have been shared 4,000 times.
Animal experts said the coyotes likely wouldn't hurt a human, but small dogs shouldn't be left alone.
"If you've got a little dog, you've got to bring them in," a resident said.
Neighborhoods that become overgrown can expect to see coyotes moving in, experts said.
A coyote expert said homeowners should take all pet food inside and cover up trash. Anyone who sees a coyote should back away from it, toss a stick and run away.