Duluth Middle School parents and guardians have been notified of a coyote sighting in the school’s parking lot.

A Duluth police officer saw the coyote running through the parking lot around 8 p.m. Monday. The department posted on Facebook, warning residents to keep pets inside.

Tuesday morning, Principal Deborah Fusi sent a message to parents, noting that the sighting occurred at night and no coyotes had been seen near the school during the day. School resource officers checked the campus for coyotes and janitors removed all trash from the school’s outdoor areas, as trash may attract hungry coyotes.

Physical education teachers were also asked to have “a heightened awareness” if they brought children outside for class.

“Because coyote sightings are not unusual in Duluth, we will continue to monitor the situation and take additional steps, if needed, to ensure student safety,” Fusi said.

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