(24/7 News) -- Wildlife officials are warning Ohio residents following an increase in the number of reported coyote sightings in urban areas.
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The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has issued a statement saying the increase at this time of year is not unusual as the animals are in the middle of a breeding season which lasts from late December until early March.
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The ODNR says coyotes at this time of year are more active during the day, and there is not as much natural foliage to camouflage them in the winter.
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Coyotes can present a danger to small pets and in Ohio, it is legal to hunt them year-round.