Austin residents are on alert as coyote sightings are expected to ramp up this month, the city’s denning season, which extends from March to November, typically leads to an uptick in coyote presence in urban areas as they are raising pups, as reported by FOX 7 Austin.

The Austin Animal Center has noted that these urban coyotes can be spotted at virtually any time or place—from neighborhood streets to greenbelts and trails, the animals are known for their adaptability, cleverness, and opportunistic nature, this is a sharp contrast to their more reclusive rural counterparts, the center cautions to not feed or water the coyotes, and encourages residents to report all sightings and encounters by calling 311.

During this season, which lasts until December, young coyotes leave their dens in search of new territory, sightings can occur at any time but are more common at dawn and dusk, according to Austin American-Statesman.

To minimize the risk of negative interactions, the Austin Animal Center advocates for "hazing" coyotes to discourage them from engaging with humans and pets, hazing entails shouting, arm-waving, and the throwing of non-edible objects at the animals, these methods not only protect the community but also ingrains in the coyotes a negative association with humans which is expected to keep them at bay, according to the Animal Center, in addition to hazing, residents are advised to keep pets on leashes and indoors at night along with reducing food sources that may attract the coyotes.