Toronto police are warning people to be cautious after a large coyote was seen roaming in a neighbourhood just east of downtown.

The coyote was spotted in the Sackville Street and Carlton Street area on Sunday morning, police said in a release on Monday.

Police were called to the scene by residents, and some officers were able to locate the coyote, but it ran off into a ravine near Wellesley Park.

"Animal services advises that coyotes are a normal part of the city and have been more active during this milder winter than usual," Toronto Police Services said in a statement.

There were several coyote sightings in the Greater Toronto Area last year, including one that charged at a man who was practising yoga in a city park during the summer. As well, a coyote was shot in Oakville, Ont., by Halton Regional Police last January after the animal jumped over a fence and bit an eight-year-old girl.

Officers are reminding residents not to leave small children or pets unsupervised. They're also reminding people to make sure garbage is secure, and residents are not feeding pets outside.