Yellowknife (Aug 30/06) - Coyotes residing on the airport grounds for the past six years have apparently departed, and no longer pose a threat to incoming or outgoing planes, an airport official says.

Concerns about which coyotes at the airport, who have run onto the tarmac, forcing pilots to brake or overshoot their landings, led wildlife officers from Environment and Natural Resources to set snares and traps last winter.

But no coyotes were caught in the traps and the animals appear to have left the area on their own accord, said Yellowknife airport manager, Steve Loutit. He said the coyotes have not been seen at the airport since this past spring.

"I don't know what drove them away, but it wasn't us," said Loutit.

Air Tindi co-owner Teri Arychuk and Adlair Air co-owner Paul Laserich both report that their pilots haven't seen any coyotes at the airport since this spring either.

When asked where he thought they went, Laserich responded, "wherever the roadrunner went."

Biologist Dean Cluff believes the coyotes are still around Yellowknife but he's not quite sure where. He said they're possibly staying low around the Jackfish Lake ravine and near the dump.

"I remember not having any sightings a few years ago," said Cluff.

"But then I had a call from the airport saying they saw one."

The pesky airport coyotes first appeared in 2000, producing pups in 2001.

The coyotes chose the airport area as it is cleared, close to the dump for a food source, and close to town, said Cluff.

The animals likely migrated to Yellowknife from south of Great Slave Lake, where they normally range, by following Highway 3 into town, he said. Cluff warned that with wildlife around, such as coyotes, there is "always a risk" of danger. While attacks are rare, they have happened, he said.