The Ministry of Environment has submitted two coyotes euthanized on the weekend in Saskatoon to the Canadian Wildlife Health Co-operative for necropsy to determine what caused their illness.

After three coyotes were spotted in distress last weekend in Saskatoon, acting strangely, the Ministry of Corrections, Policing and Public Safety released a statement Tuesday. Saskatoon Police reported the coyotes were spotted separately and two were safely euthanized but the third got away.

Preliminary results may be available in about two weeks, but a final determination could take longer if specialized testing is required.  Because what cause the illness isn’t known, the public is being advised to be vigilant when using dog parks out of an abundance of caution and keep your pet’s vaccinations up to date to protect them from diseases such as rabies and distemper.

The Ministry says coyote sightings are not unusual in Saskatoon. They are good at adapting to urban areas and are found in low numbers in almost every major city in North America.

The statement says, “If you encounter a coyote, treat it like you would any other animal. Keep your distance, make noise and don’t approach it. If you are concerned about a coyote within city limits, call the Saskatoon Police Service.”