Yellowknife (Nov 05/04) - A Yellowknife resident says reports of a pack of wolves taking up residence in the Frame Lake area aren't exactly correct.

Alex Clinton swears the animals he saw Tuesday morning are in fact coyotes.

"There were about eight or nine of them when I pulled onto Frame Lake, coming back from Long Lake on my snow machine," said Clinton.

The Department of Resources, Wildlife, and Economic Development (RWED) issued a warning last week, advising people that wolves were spotted on Frame Lake and they should watch out for their dogs.

Clinton, who said he has seen many coyotes down south, believes the animals he saw by the sharp corner around Old Airport Road were much too small to be wolves.

He said the animals dispersed into the bush when they saw him approach but three of them came back and stared at him from the rocks after he whistled to them.

"Even the tracks were way, way smaller than wolves," said Clinton.

"They look like a typical wolf, but they're a hell of a lot smaller."

Mayor Gord Van Tighem saw five or six of the animals forming a pack on Frame Lake from his office window one morning this week. He first thought they were wolves but after hearing of Clinton's story, he decided they must be coyotes, after all.

"There were nine of them at one point in time, but one was found on the highway on the weekend, splatted," Van Tighem said.

"When I was looking at them, their faces seemed pointier, but they didn't have the gangly legs that you'd expect from coyotes. But when you think about it, they were pretty-well furred, so..."

Van Tighem thinks the RWED wolf alert originated from City Hall through phone calls to the RWED office about wolves on the lake.

RWED spokesperson Judy McLinton said her office had an inkling that the reported wolf sightings on Frame Lake were actually coyotes.

"That's what we've been wondering around here," said McLinton.

"They were living out by the airport. They're probably living in other spots, but I'm not sure now."

Averaging 15 to 20 kilograms, coyotes are much smaller than wolves, which vary in weight from 25 to 60 kilograms.

Despite their smaller size, McLinton said coyotes can still pose a danger to pets, if given the opportunity.

"The main thing is for people to keep their dogs on a leash," said McLinton.

Former mayor Pat McMahon, who owns a house overlooking Frame Lake, denies any possibility that the animals she has seen on three separate occasions are coyotes.

"They were travelling in a pack," said McMahon. "Coyotes don't travel in packs."

"Everything I've ever read, everything I've ever seen about wolves, plus any wolves that I've run into, always travel in packs. Coyotes are loners.

"I'm no wildlife expert, but they sure looked liked wolves to Murray (her husband) and me."

Regardless of what either Clinton or McMahon claim to have seen on Frame Lake, both say the animals should be left alone and allowed to stay. "There are coyotes living in Toronto, so a few living around Yellowknife won't hurt us, I imagine," said Clinton.

"Unless, you like to leave your dog running around at night."