Yellowknife (Nov 10/04) - A government biologist says it's possible both coyotes and wolves are running around the Frame Lake area.

Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development's Dean Cluff said while he hasn't seen either on the lake, reports suggests they're both present.

RWED biologist Dean Cluff sniffs a twig on a Frame Lake island for coyote urine. He said it normally smells more "musky" than dog pee. - Mike W. Bryant/NNSL photo

"It definitely could be possible," said Cluff.

"Personally, I suspect it's coyotes, given what I've seen around Jackfish (Lake). But some people are convinced they're wolves.

"I'm not going to say they're liars."

RWED officers recently discovered a dead coyote pup -- apparently hit by a car -- on Highway 3 near Jackfish Lake. Another one was found dead on the highway near the Stagg River.

Cluff suspects the present population of coyotes are the progeny of a breeding group that began denning near the Yellowknife airport a few years ago.

He said the coyotes likely made their way to Yellowknife by following the highway up from the South Slave area. Coyote sightings in Yellowknife go back to the 1960s, but Cluff said previous groups were likely wiped out by wolves who killed and ate them.

"The wolves have killed them in the past, but this time they haven't," said Cluff.

"It's going to be intriguing if there are indeed wolves and coyotes in the city limits here. Who wins?"

Cluff accompanied Yellowknifer out to an island on Frame Lake Monday, where some suspected coyote prints were found in the snow, along with many others made by foxes.

Similar to dog prints

The problem with coyote prints, said Cluff, is that they are very similar to those made by ordinary domesticated dogs.

Janet Pacey, president of the NWT SPCA, said she is almost certain both coyotes and wolves are present in town.

"I've seen wolves in town," she said, adding that people have told her wolves are denning by the old Back Bay cemetery, while the coyotes seem to favour the south end of Frame Lake.

She said there have been several missing cats reported lately, but not that many dogs. Coyotes and dogs have been known to feast on both.

Keep pets indoors

"We always want people to keep their cats indoors, because they just last longer anyway," said Pacey.

Despite the apparently climbing numbers of canine predators in the neighbourhood, Pacey said she hopes no one takes any drastic action to rid the city of them.

"Why would you want to get rid of foxes, coyotes or wolves?" said Pacey.

"They're wild animals. They're not going to attack people."