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A coyote in the wilderness.

((Courtesy Photo | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service))

ROYAL OAK, MI - The Detroit Zoo has a new, unwanted resident.

A wild coyote remains on the grounds of the sprawling facility this afternoon, but is in an area where it poses no threat to humans or zoo animals.

The coyote, which is believed to have entered the zoo sometime in the early morning, is being monitored in the zoo's Dinosauria exhibit, spokeswoman Patricia Janeway said. The 4-acre area of the Royal Oak zoo is not being used this year.

Staff discovered the rogue coyote sometime after 7 a.m. this morning. In order to ensure the safety of guests, the 9 a.m. opening of the zoo was delayed until 10:20 a.m. The zoo is now open and functioning normally, Janeway said.

"We're monitoring the situation," he said. "Occasionally, animals will leave on their own. From what I understand coyotes are most active at sunrise and sunset. We will monitor its movement throughout the day and resume efforts to remove it after the zoo closes at 5 p.m. "

Janeway said she isn't aware of any other time a coyote has entered the zoo, but staff dealt with a similar situation regarding a deer in 2016. That animal had jumped a fence to get in.

Coyotes are naturally afraid of humans. The animal's presence is more dangerous for the zoo's small animals like red pandas and birds like flamingos, cranes and storks.

All of the at-risk animals have been sheltered, Janeway said.

According to the Humane Society, Coyote attacks on people are very rare. More people are killed by errant golf balls and flying champagne corks each year than are bitten by coyotes.