Coyotes On the Loose in the Dale

Police received many reports from wary residents who spotted coyotes on their lawns and streets this past week. Unless the coyote appears to be sick or aggressive, police will not trap or harm the animals, but with reports from Rye of coyote attacks, some are wondering what can be done to remove them from the area.

Mark Carter of Catherine Road in Heathcote came upon a coyote as he was driving home at dusk with his family in the car on August 30th. He describes a very large dog-like animal, skinny, with a triangular, pointed face and dark fur. Unlike foxes, that always seem to be on the move, the coyote stood still, and stared at the Carters as they stared back.

His neighbor had spotted a coyote earlier in the day and it appears that the coyotes live in the woods near the Fenway Golf Course that borders the area. Carter would like to see them trapped and removed to a less-populated area. He points out that loose dogs are caught and brought to shelters and sees the coyotes as a threat to residents and their household pets. On Labor Day weekend he contemplated taking a snooze on his hammock in his yard, but nixed the idea due to the fear of a coyote wandering by.

Additional reports of coyotes were received from:

• Wynmor Road at 1:41 in the afternoon on 8/30
• Farragut Road at 2:32 pm on 8/30 same day at
• Catherine Road at 4:36 pm on 8/30 --Police went there to investigate, found the coyote and got it to move out of the yard and into the woods.
• Thies Court at 1:45 on August 31
• Richbell Road at 6 PM on September 4
• Black Birch Lane at 7:20 pm in the evening of September 5
• Fenway Golf Course on the second hole around 11 am on Labor Day
• At Wildwood and Corell Roads at 11:30 am on September 6

Do you think coyotes should be removed from the area? Share your comments in the section below.