Some pets are disappearing in the rural areas of Halifax, and coyotes may be responsible.    

Bev Anthony from Hubley, N.S., says she left her 10-year-old cat out for the night three weeks ago and it never returned.

Anthony still recalls a noise that woke her up that night.

“It sounded like something, an animal, was in trouble,” said Anthony. “We searched the whole property, searched across the way, and no sign of her.”

The Anthonys aren’t the only ones to have mysteriously lost a pet in recent weeks. There’s anecdotal evidence a dog was killed in one owner’s yard by a coyote.

Experts say there aren't necessarily more coyotes around right now, but it’s the time of year when they're on the move.

Wildlife technician Butch Galvez of the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources has recently spent a lot of time posting warnings about coyotes.

The department tracks sightings on its website, urging residents and trail users that see a coyote to be as “unfriendly” as possible.

“Shouting at the coyote, throwing an object towards the coyote, anything to startle it is a good idea," said Galvez.

Bruce Munroe spotted a coyote close to his home last week. He says pets are one thing, but people are another. 

“They might attack little kids, I don't really know,” said Munroe. “I don't know if they'd come after you." 

Hubley resident Susan Feltmate says she’s heard coyotes howling in the middle of the night.

“Sometimes in the evening you'll hear what you think is a number of small dogs barking, and it's the coyotes,” said Feltmate.

She says she’ll be keeping her dog on a tighter leash.

“I think we have to be cautious with the coyotes. They are here to stay.”

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Bruce Frisko.