A male coyote shot by Toronto Police last month is alive and roaming the city’s streets after escaping capture in a trail of blood, according to wildlife officials.

The Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC) says the sick animal’s health is rapidly deteriorating as a result of the gunshot wound and a severe case of a skin disease called mange. It was last seen in a Scarborough neighbourhood, east of the downtown core.

“Capturing coyotes is very difficult, and the father is still eluding us, but we have captured most of his pups,” says Nathalie Karvonen, executive director of TWC, in a media release. TWC says there is at least one pup still with the father on the run.

Five coyote pups believed to be the offspring of the elusive sick male have been rescued by the centre since it began monitoring the coyotes’ den areas. One caught on July 30 died within 24 hours.

“He had one of the worst cases of mange and emaciation I have ever seen in a coyote,” said Aaron Archer, a TWC wildlife veterinary technician.

Toronto Police issued a public safety alert on June 29, saying the coyote could be dangerous to the public and may have a brain disease.

Police shot and injured the coyote on July 23, but were unable to capture it. TWC staff said the injury to the animal was serious due the amount of blood left at the scene.

TWC says there has only been one case of a coyote biting a person in Toronto, resulting in minor injuries. The individual was said to be hand-feeding the animal.

TWC insists the coyote poses no harm to the public, noting that they are generally shy and frightened of people.

“In our opinion, police discharging firearms in residential areas pose a much greater risk to public safety,” said Karvonen.