NEW ORLEANS -- It seems to be a rite of spring in parts of the area; coyote sightings. This year they're being reported seen fairly early.
A video on March 15th however captured what appeared to be a fairly large coyote dashing across the street in the Whitney Heights neighborhood in the daytime. While over in Broadmoor in New Orleans, a Nextdoor App user saw one Monday morning near Fontainbleu and Vincennes.
"They're scroungers. They go after partially wounded animals," Timothy Brennan said.
Brennan says neighbors in the area have been talking about coyotes, but he has his own personal story that has convinced him to be more careful when he lets his Jack Russell Terrier out.
"Saturday, I was in the backyard in the kitchen with Holly and I let her in the back yard and I heard the baying," he said.
According to Jerry Howard, a professor of biology at the University of New Orleans, coyotes have been migrating in from the west in higher numbers over the last several years, and this is the season to see more of them in urban areas.
"It's early spring. A lot of the coyotes are starting to breed and some of them are going to have pups and they'll be looking to feed those pups," he said.
Howard also says its possible some coyotes are following prey that have moved due to recent river level fluctuations.
"It certainly has been an issue in the past. Coyotes have attacked small children mostly though they're going for pets as food, so if you have a pet like a cat or a dachshund and you put that dachshund out in the backyard and you're not attentive to it, a coyote could actually snap it up and jump your fence," Howard explained.
That scenario sounds like a nightmare for Brennan, who says he will not be letting Holly out of sight anytime soon.
Eyewitness News also checked in with the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries about the sightings. A media spokesperson says reports have not spiked, but warns residents to keep small pets inside and not to leave food outdoors that could attract coyotes. They advise calling local authorities if you spot one near your home.