A coyote that bit a Westsyde woman on the leg Wednesday night is likely the same creature that lunged at a preschooler nine days prior, a conservation officer said Thursday.

That prompted Steve Wasylik to warn Bank Road residents to keep a close eye on their pets and carry a stick or broom handle when out for a walk.

“It's really unusual behaviour,” said Wasylik, adding coyotes tend to be timid. “To just up and bite someone on the back of the leg and not be scared away, that's unusual.”

A conservation officer was dispatched to the 3200 block of Bank Road at about 7 p.m. Wednesday when a coyote bit a woman while she and a friend were out for a walk on the 3200 block Bank Road.

The woman later told the CO that she felt a tug and a sharp pain on her calve, said Wasylik.

“There was a coyote standing there and looking at her like a pet,” he said. The bite left a bruise on the woman's leg. “It basically stood there. It wasn't growling or being aggressive.”

The women yelled at it, but the animal held its ground. Wasylik said they flagged down a passing vehicle and jumped in. The coyote stalked around the vehicle and stood and watched as it drove away, he said.

It was spotted two more times. One resident followed the animal in his truck and watched as it wandered onto the North Thompson River.

That was the second time in the last two weeks where a coyote has behaved aggressively toward Bank Road residents.

On Jan. 31 Leesa Watkinson, 29, yell, swore and kicked at a coyote that snuck up behind her and her daughters metres from their home on the 3000 block of Bank.

Watkinson was walking her oldest daughter, Lily, 4, home from Westsyde Country Day Montessori preschool when youngest girl Isabelle, 2, slipped on some ice. When Mom turned to help, the coyote grabbed at Lily's pant leg.

“I heard Lily scream,” she said. “I looked up and I saw the coyote come along the fence and try to bite her on her leg.”

The animal's muzzle was right against her daughter's leg. Lily said she could feel it brush against her but the coyote didn't have time to clamp down.

Watkinson kicked the coyote, she said. Instead of running off, the animal stood its ground. So she yelled and swore at it.

“Get away from me! Get away from my kids,” she yelled. The coyote snarled back.

“I started to get really scared.”

The coyote didn't walk away until Watkinson threw Lily's backpack at it, she said. Even then, the animal wasn't afraid of her.

After that, Watkinson armed herself with a walking stick when taking Lily to and from school. Now that a second attack has occurred, she's decided to drive her to Montessori.

Wasylik said a walking stick or hockey stick is a good weapon against a coyote. And he asked residents to keep an eye on their pets until the offending animal is dealt with.

He said a coyote in Westsyde is not unusual. But he believes one or more could be habituated.

“It's used to people. We think it's being fed,” he said.

That doesn't mean people are feeding it. Wasylik said the animal could be surviving on discarded food or residents' garbage.

He asked anyone who sees a coyote in the neighbourhood to phone 1-877-952-7277.

Bank Road resident Sarah Rhode didn't learn of the attacks until The Daily News approached her while she walked a friend's dog on Thursday.

She immediately became worried about her cat, JoJo, who she let outside 2 a.m.

“I haven't seen him since,” said Rhode.