NILES, Ohio - You don't always have to go to a park or game reserve to experience wildlife. Some animals have left the wild and are roaming urban neighborhoods.
Coyote sightings and a pet that was most likely killed by a coyote has the city of Niles taking action.
Susan Pack no longer lets her dog Bear go outside without her. It was January 3rd when she let Bear and his sister Lucy outside but only Bear returned. A veterinarian believes a coyote killed Lucy.
Not too far from Pack's home a resident was able to capture a photo of these coyotes on Mosquito Creek.
"It's breeding season so they're mated, you'll see them in twos," said Brian Adkins from Brian's Wildlife Service.
And along an access road there are tracks and plenty of them.
Just 30 yards from where the coyotes have been spotted you will find condominiums and just further down a trail is Kennedy Park, a popular place where people walk their dogs.
Niles City Councilman David Wilkerson tells 21 News the city acted on these concerns and has hired Brian's Wildlife Service in Brookfield.
"People get out a lot and walk their animals. So we're really concerned about these coyotes maybe coming out of the woods and causing harm. So we felt it will be best to get rid of them," Wilkerson said.
Adkins, has laid traps to remove the coyotes. He says the animals will travel up to 15 miles a day looking for food. "A coyote eats its weight in meat in a week. If a coyote weighs 40 pounds, it consumes 40 pounds of meat a week. Two coyotes, if they weigh 70 pounds, that's 70 pounds of animals," Adkins said.
Adkins says dog owners should take their animals outside on a leash, and watch their children. He tells us coyotes are typically afraid of people but when rabid there is not telling how dangerous they can be.
"Coyotes are afraid of humans. They don't come after people. Usually if something like that happens, they are usually sick. They have distemper or rabies," Adkins said.
Pack knows firsthand how deadly coyotes can be and she hopes to spare others her pain and Bear's pain.
