Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

Police in northwest Denver are warning residents to watch out for coyotes after one was spotted chasing a cat and officers received reports of two other sightings.

Police don't know whether one coyote was spotted on three occasions or whether more than one of the creatures is roaming the area, according to The Denver Post.

Coyote sightings were reported in and near parks and homes.

You shouldn't approach coyotes if you see them on the trail or outside your home. Wildlife officers recommend scaring away coyotes near homes so they don't get used to people, pets and easy sources of food.

They also recommend always turning a light on and checking the yard before allowing pets to roam outside, particularly between dusk and dawn.

Parents walking with children on trails near Broomfield have reported coyotes getting a little too close for comfort in the past year, and authorities have responded by killing some coyotes found in the area.