BOSTON -- A family of coyotes roaming a neighborhood in Boston's West Roxbury area has residents on alert.

NewsCenter 5's Shiba Russell reported that residents first saw the family of five coyotes -- a mother and four pups -- on Mother's Day weekend crossing the VFW Parkway.

On Wednesday, Animal Control tracked one of the pups to a house on Keith Street and captured it. Another pup was hit by a car and killed. The mother left the pup in a yard.

"It was huge. It is, like, bigger than a German shepherd," said Sheila Murphy, who called Animal Control.

"Kind of feel bad for them. I hope they don't get put down," one resident said.

While some residents said they are sympathetic to the coyotes, other residents said they feel trapped.

"When I saw the coyote, I was really frightened and I wasn't expecting it that much, because I didn't know coyotes were around here," said Daniel Murphy, 9.

Although the coyotes have not attacked any people or pets, officials said residents should not try to go near the animals or feed them.

"Don't harass the animals. Don’t feed the animals -- that is a big problem we have. It seems that people want to feed wildlife. They are good at getting food on their own -- you don't need to give them a handout. That just brings them around. Leaving trash out. They are animals of opportunity," said Sgt. Roger Thurlow, of the Massachusetts Environmental Police.

Officials hope the mother coyote will come back looking for her dead pup. The pup that was captured could be released, animal control said.