“Coyotes are a little bit larger than a fox, smaller than a wolf, if you think of a small German Shepherd dog, that’s about the size of a coyote,” Prout said. “It’s a pretty big predator.

In light of coyote mating season, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources provided tips to help Virginians prevent possible encounters with the animal.

You may hear coyotes calling this winter as they seek mates, breed. Here's what to know about the Michigan predators.