Macedonia police are on the hunt for an “alpha male coyote” believed to have killed at least one family pet and injured another.
A trap was baited a week ago with part of a deer that is presumed to have been killed by the animal, but no nibbles yet.
“It killed the deer in that area so we’re hoping if it gets hungry, it will remember” where it left its dinner, Police Chief Jon Golden said.
Coyotes are far from rare in Ohio. The Ohio Division of Wildlife reports they are present in all 88 counties, and their population is growing.
In Macedonia, the police department this week posted a notice on its Facebook page encouraging residents to make sure the coyotes feel unwelcome by “hazing” them — a form of harassment that can include yelling and waving arms, using noisemakers, throwing sticks and other small objects, or spraying them with hoses or spray bottles filled with vinegar water.
“Basically, raise holy hell and scare them away,” Golden said.
The fact that at least one animal is nabbing pets from porches suggests it has lost its fear of humans and needs to be eliminated, he said.
Golden also noted that coyotes are called “wily” for a reason: They are smart enough to read a human’s habits. So dog walkers should change their routine, keep their pets on a leash, turn on exterior lights and make noise while outside, and be prepared to scream and take a stand if a coyote makes itself known.
Residents with bird feeders are also being asked to reconsider filling them. Bird seed attracts small mammals and rodents that coyotes like to prey upon.
Golden took a photo of a large coyote in his own Macedonia backyard in December.
He said there’s no way to know if the animal in his image is the one threatening local pets, but he does believe the two pets were attacked by a single coyote.
The first attack was on Chinaberry Circle last month when a couple watched helplessly as the largest of three coyotes that appeared snatched up their small dog.
Several days later off Versailles Place — in a backyard wooded strip just a couple of hundred feet from the first attack — a second dog was injured.
Neither dog was on a leash, Golden said.
The coyote mating season is January through March, with the peak in February, Golden said. During this period, the animals become more aggressive as they increase their range searching for the right mate.
“All this searching requires more calories than usual thereby requiring more food,” the department said in its Facebook post.
The city is also encouraging bow hunters to take aim at coyotes while hunting in Macedonia.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.