Wild coyote spotted roaming Detroit Zoo

May 2 (UPI) -- A wild coyote remained at large at a zoo in Michigan on Tuesday after being spotted on the grounds a day earlier.

The Detroit Zoo closed temporarily on Monday morning when the coyote was seen wandering the grounds, but reopened the next day.

Zoo spokeswoman Patricia Janeway said the wild animal was not a threat to the public and mainly put smaller animals in the zoo at risk.

"Every now and then, these things happen," she said. "We will shelter animals that might be at risk."

Janeway told WWJ the coyote was last seen in the vacant Dinosauria exhibit away from guests, but urged visitors not to approach the animal if they encounter it.

She said a crew of veterinarians and keepers would work alongside members of the security team to capture the animal, but that staff hopes the situation will resolve itself.

"Well, our hope is still that the coyote will leave the same way it came in, on its own, but in the meantime we are hoping for an opportunity to capture and secure it," Janeway said.