Two coyotes have taken up residency in Regina's Wascana Park, but there's no reason for people to be scared, park officials say.

According to Jared Clarke, a naturalist with the Wascana Centre Authority, coyotes have been coming to the park during the winter for decades and usually feed on small rodents and even crab apples.

These coyotes are spending a lot of their time on two islands a few hundred metres from the provincial Legislative Building.

"They will spend most of their time out on Spruce and Willow [islands]," he said. "People aren't allowed on the ice so they're out there and fairly safe."

The park says there have been several sightings in recent weeks. The bandshell on the north side of the Wascana Lake is one place where they have been spotted.

People shouldn't try to feed the animals or leave food for them. If they encounter a coyote, people should maintain eye contact, make noise and try to appear big.

"They are wildlife, they're not something to be feared," Clarke said. "We need to respect them, they are definitely wild animals but we do want to ensure that they maintain their fear of humans."

Meanwhile, running from a coyote is not considered a good idea — it could trigger a chasing instinct in the animal, the park says.