Link: http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/nov/01/ ... ar-277737/Minervia Park Village:
Coyotes have been spotted in Minerva Park, a small village on the north side between Columbus and Westerville Ohio. Most of the village is residential and includes a golf course and several wooded areas. It's an ideal habitat for coyotes because there are plenty of places to hide during the day with small animals to hunt at night, including domesticated pets.
"Sadly, one our little dogs on the north side of the Village had been attacked by a coyote in the early-morning hours and did not survive," says Mayor Lynn Eisentrout. "This is the first time we've heard about coyotes being spotted in the Village this year."
The mayor says a resident whose property abuts the golf course reported seeing three coyotes Monday morning. She has contacted the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to ask for advice.
Dana Limes has seen coyotes while playing golf in Minerva Park. He says they look like large dogs but they have never approached him.
"I've seen them on the golf course maybe four or five times over the course of the summer," Limes says. "They're usually out early in the morning and you'll catch 'em running across one of the fairways."
Limes says his mother, Bonnie, who lives in the village, has a chihuahua named Sunny. She walks the dog through the neighborhood and is not concerned about the coyotes attacking him because she stays with him and doesn't leave him alone in the yard.
Alex Beaver's property borders a creek with lots of trees and wildlife. The stream meanders from Cleveland Avenue, through the entire village, across Westerville Road and, eventually, empties into Alum Creek. Beaver and his family spend lots of time watching the wildlife in the ravine. They even put out salt blocks and pumpkins to feed the animals. From their living room windows, they've seen deer, raccoons, foxes, hawks and even peregrine falcons, but no coyotes.
"I have two large dogs so I'm not worried about them at all but I have two cats and particularly with the hawk and rabies carriers like raccoons, we keep them inside. And, of course, a coyote could make pretty quick work of a cat," Beaver points out.
"Just because a coyote exists, doesn't mean they're actually going to be a problem," notes Gary Ludwig, a Wildlife Biologist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. "Realistically, if coyotes have selected an area, there's something there that they're really keying on." He says they'll seek out areas with adequate places to build a den and with a good supply of food. They're adaptable animals, he says, so they can survive on anything from small prey to household garbage.
"With any wildlife, whether it's coyotes, raccoons or whatever, is try to eliminate the food source, try to make that food source less available or try to make that denning area or that cover less available to them," Ludwig says.
He says coyotes pose very little risk to people unless the animals are cornered or feel threatened. Usually, they'll avoid human contact. He says there was an unusual case in Strongsville this summer when a person was bitten by a coyote while trying to protect a leashed family pet. He says it's important to be "a responsible pet owner" and keep your pets away from potential hazards in the first place. Don't leave them unattended in the yard or wandering around the neighborhood all night.
Coyotes do not have natural predators in Ohio so hunting is the most effective population control. Ohio does not have a specific season or bag limit for coyote hunting.
"It's open season on them all year 'round," says Ludwig.
But hunters are required to have a license and to follow local hunting rules and regulations.
To rid an area of coyotes, Ludwig says the best method is to eliminate the convenient feeding and nesting areas. Beyond that, call a qualified critter-control company.
Ohio Wildlife: http://shadows-end0.tripod.com/mrss10.html
Minerva park is where i live but i have not seen any coyotes yet.