Every now and then you’ll see stories like the one inside Saturday’s T-D Metro section. “Coyote not found after being spotted in Windsor Farms,” read the headline.

A Windsor Farms resident saw a coyote in her yard about 8 a.m. Friday and called the city. The city told her to call the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The DGIF told her to call a trapper. By the time the trapper got there the coyote was gone.

“It didn’t hurt anything, but it is a little worrisome,” the resident said.

Honestly, it’s not that worrisome. Coyotes live among us. They have for some time now. Unless you leave your Chihuahua or three-month old outside for long stretches, a coyote probably isn’t going to bother you. And if it does come around, it’s likely more interested in your trash. They may see like exotic animals, but they’re really not. Not anymore.

Click here to learn more about coyotes in Virginia.