Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Coyotes Pose Threat to Pets Jenny Ruby - 11/6/2003 www.mnSun.com
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Coyotes pose thre to pets
BY JOSHUA NICHOLS they may think of the barren desert or
Sun Newspapers perhaps Looney Tunes cartoons,coyotes
are no strangers to the area, Ruby said.
Something's been killing some of Coyotes and other small wild animals
Eagan's small pets and it may take the like raccoons, skunks, and fox, have al-
powers of the Acme Corp.,or a little blue ways been found in Eagan.
roadrunner,to put the fiends out of com- With the close proximity of large
mission. wooded and undeveloped areas like Fort
The Police Department warned Snelling State Park, Lebanon Regional
Eagan residents last week that coyotes Park, and other city parks, coyotes will
may be preying on small pets in the always have a presence in Eagan, she
southeastern portion of the city. said.
Over the past three months the de- According to the Minnesota Depart-
partment has taken two separate reports ment of Natural Resources (DNR) Web
of small domestic pets killed in a neigh- site, the coyote is Minnesota's most
borhood near Wilderness Road and abundant predator. Coyotes resemble a
Capricorn Circle. small, lean German shepherd, with
In both incidents, the pets were out-. adults weighing up to 30 pounds.
side and unattended. Coyotes generally eat rabbits, hares,
According to Eagan Police reports, mice, voles, skunks, muskrats, ruffed
the first incident involved a 13-year-old grouse, small or weak deer, grass, and
beagle that was let outside one night and berries.
later found dead. The dog's owner re- According to the DNR,coyotes are nog
ported finding bite marks on the dog's a threat to humans. There has neves
neck. been a documented coyote attack on
In the second instance, a cat was human in Minnesota.
found torn apart. However, if their food source is com
The Police Department believes coy- promised,coyotes will prey on small do-
otes were behind the two incidents be- mestic pets.
cause the city and other suburbs have Therefore, the Police Department is
experienced an increase in coyote sight- encouraging residents to take these sim-
ings over the past few years,Officer Jen- ple precautions to ensure the safety of
nifer Ruby said. their small pets:
"It's something we have been seeing a •90 not leave pet food or garbage out-
lot more of recently and something that side.
other areas are reporting as well,"Ruby -Do not leave small dogs or cats out-
said. "It's becoming typical for the sub- side unattended for long periods of time.
urbs." "Everyone should be aware the poten-
Although these reported attacks were tial harm coyotes could inflict on pets
confined to a small area in the city, op- and take precautions,"Ruby said."They
portunistic coyotes will range wherever don't pose any threat to people, but we
necessary to find food. It is conceivable want residents to be aware that this is
coyotes can be found throughout Eagan, happening."
Ruby said. Eagan residents may contact Ruby at
When most people think of coyotes 651-675-5700 if they have questions.