Courtesy Photo A coyote roaming in a Rogers City neighborhood earlier this week was caught in a photo by a resident. Rogers City officials urge people to be vigilant until police can determine how many wandering around the city.

ALPENA — Residents of Rogers City are still being asked to report any sightings of coyotes that could be wandering through residential neighborhoods.

Earlier this week, police in Rogers City received many reports of the wild animal strolling in front of homes and in the streets of the city.

Rogers City Mayor Scott McLennan said police were able to draw a coyote to the outskirts of the city, but police, and a wild animal expert that was hired, remain unsure if there are more of the canines that need to be addressed.

McLennan said people still need to be diligent and not leave small children and pets outside unattended until officials are certain the public safety issue has been rectified.

“Right now, we are not ready to say there aren’t any more of them, even though right now there are signs that it may have been the only one,” he said. “We’re asking the public that if they see more to report it to police, especially if you see them during the day. It is still a potential danger to the public and we can’t let our guard down yet.”

Police received a few tips on coyotes in the city limits last weekend, but the call volume increased, and photos of the animals walking through residential areas spread on social media. McLennan said news of the plan to force the animals outside of the city and eliminate them was questioned by some people. He said some people believed the animals were being harassed and it would be cruel to kill them.

“The reality is we have children and small pets that would be put in danger if we did nothing,” he said. “We can’t let the coyote roam in the city. It just doesn’t work that way. It is a potential danger and we needed to address it.”

McLennan once again stressed that residents stay clear of the animal or animals if they see them and not take action on their own. He said people should not shoot a gun to try to eliminate the animals, because if someone does, there is a good chance they could be arrested because discharging a firearm in the city is against the law.

“We just want people to be smart and let the professionals handle it,” McLennan said. “We’ll make sure the public is made aware of any changes in the situation, but for now, if you see one of the animals, call the police.”

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or sschulwitz@thealpenanews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ss_alpenanews.com.