A pack of coyotes were caught on a trail camera engaging in a screaming match at a Virginia wildlife refuge just minutes away from a bustling metro.
The three coyotes were seen standing in a circle howling at the moon at the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge in the suburban city of Woodbridge, not far from Washington, DC.
Their yips could easily be mistaken as sirens as the high-pitched squeals filled the night air.
‘A trail camera at Occoquan Bay NWR caught three coyotes having a screaming contest!’ the US Fish and Wildlife Service wrote on Instagram.
‘Kidding, but these vocalizations of yipping, howling, and barking all are ways coyotes communicate, build social bonds, or deter predators.’
Although the animals typically avoid humans, the dog-like predator can be especially dangerous toward pets and have been known to hunt them in packs if they’re left unattended in a yard or off-leash.
There are around 50,000 coyotes that live in Virginia, according to AZ Animals.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources have complained that the coyote population has reached too high a number in the state as more and more of them have found their way into suburban areas.
Three coyotes were seen standing in a circle howling at the moon in Virginia
Coyotes can be dangerous, especially toward pets, including eating them
The state has had a coyote damage control program since 1990, which helps remove pesky ones from areas they shouldn’t be.
Within the state, coyotes are classified as ‘nuisances’ and can be killed ‘at anytime’, except on Sundays, but not with a firearm, according to Fairfax County.
The trio’s recent – and loud – appearance isn’t the only odd coyote sighting of late.
Last month, a pair of adventurous coyotes have been spotted in an unexpected location – San Francisco’s subway system.
The furry animals entered the Central Subway tunnel before dawn on January 27 and led baffled employees on an underground journey for more than one mile.
Early morning workers on board SFMTA’s sweeper train first spotted the canines during a routine inspection before opening the transport system for the day.
They pursued the duo for more than a mile to the end of the line at Chinatown’s Rose Pak Station, while trying to plot how to capture the creatures if they needed to do so.
Luckily, the animals politely departed the subway by themselves before the first scheduled train of the day, so the intruders did not cause any disruption.
They were spotted at the Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Woodbridge (pictured)
A pair of adventurous coyotes have been spotted in an unexpected location – San Francisco’s subway system. An image from the subway’s surveillance system (shown above) showed the adorable animals during their quest near Fourth and Bryant streets on January 27
If you come in contact with a coyote, the Humane Society recommends never running away, as it will likely chase you.
They recommend yelling and waving at the animal or even using projectiles and other items to get it to leave.
‘The coyote may not leave at first, but if you approach them closer and/or increase the intensity of your hazing, they will run away,’ it said.
‘If the coyote runs away a short distance and then stops and looks at you, continue hazing until they leave the area entirely.’
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