As California streets empty under the stay-at-home measures to “flatten the curve” of the novel coronavirus outbreak, wild animals have come to reclaim their domain.

University of Alberta scientists are alerting the public to a potentially lethal tapeworm, Echinococcus multilocularis which infects humans through the feces of coyotes and dogs.

Department biologists do not keep track of coyote numbers, but Fairbanks-area trapper Randy Zarnke said coyotes began showing up on his trapline trails three or four years ago.