Police Chief Rob Sharpnack reports police officers conducted an investigation into reports of a coyote den in the College Park area and found that no such den exists.
“Based on our observations, we believe an adult and two teenage coyotes have habituated the area,” Chief Sharpnack said. “In response, we have conferred with Fish and Wildlife and placed traps in the neighborhood. The “Havahart” traps have been out for a few weeks and are checked multiple times per day by Animal Control. Thus far, we have yet to trap a coyote.”
Chief Sharpnack notes that these actions are consistent with the city’s Coyote Management Plan.
Click here for our Coyote Information page for the Coyote Management Plan, video tips and more.
It should be noted that although the department employs humane traps, it is against the law to relocate captured coyotes. Additionally, the Police Department has and will continue to remove coyotes who have become aggressive and a threat to the community.
The police department has also placed traps in the Monticello area, near City Hall, and around Vanguard. No dens have been identified or located in any of these areas as well. In working the previously described areas, Animal Control staff have observed the presence of a variety of coyote attractants. For example, one resident had an elevated plate full of peanuts and sunflower seeds. It appeared the resident was leaving the food out for squirrels, which in turn will bring in coyotes.
The department has also seen evidence of coyotes feeding on fruit trees, easily accessible trash and food waste and pet food. In addition, the department continues to request residents with overgrown shrubs and plants cut them back so coyotes will not bed down in those concealed locations.
Chief Sharpnack urged residents to continue to report sightings on the Coyote Cacher, click here for that tool.
The Coyote Cacher enables authorities to track activity and to help determine when or if coyotes are habituated in an area. The benefit for residents is that authorities may be able to identify trends and respond to their area in a more timely manner.
Depending on the circumstances, the Coyote Cacher information may also help in deciding whether to deploy traps and/or seek out the coyotes with tranquilizer guns. In those cases, the coyotes that are captured are euthanized.