Coyote sightings seem to be on the rise this year in urban areas Manitoba.

Dean Berezanski is the provincial furbearer biologist with Manitoba Conservation and Water Stewardship.

He says coyote numbers generally fluctuate from year to year and from place to place.

"What they could also be seeing are animals disbursing from packs," explained Berezanski. "As the animals get older, the younger animals can disburse from those packs and seek their own territories."

Berezanski adds coyotes generally try to avoid people, unless there is something that attracts them such as food.

"They're fairly intelligent animals and they can learn that there's some things about people that are beneficial for them," he said.

Berezanski adds if you come into contact with a coyote, you should wave your hands in the air and act aggressively to scare the animal away.

He notes you should never let your pets run free outside, as they could come into contact with a coyote.