ARLINGTON, MASS. (WHDH) - Police warned Arlington dog owners after a coyote killed a dog in the town.
Around 7 a.m. Friday, police received a report that a coyote had attacked and killed a resident’s West Highland Terrier while the dog was in the backyard.
The resident’s property is located near Menotomy Rocks Park, a wooded area where the animals have been known to reside.
“There will always be coyotes in Arlington,” said Animal Control Officer Kozikowski. “The best ways that we can prevent further interactions with coyotes is to make our homes less of an attraction for them.”
Police urged people to be on alert and offered tips to residents from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife:
- Do not approach, feed, pet, or try to interact with wildlife, including coyotes, foxes, or other wild animals.
- It is always a good idea to leash pets at all times if outdoors. Small cats and dogs are seen as prey and larger dogs, competition.
- Don’t hesitate to scare or threaten coyotes with loud noises, bright lights, or water sprayed from a hose.
- Cut back brushy edges, as these areas provide cover for coyotes and their prey.
- Secure your garbage. Coyotes raid open trash materials and compost piles. Secure your garbage in tough plastic containers with tight-fitting lids and keep them in secure buildings when possible. Take out trash when the morning pick up is scheduled, not the previous night. Keep compost in secure, vented containers, and keep barbecue grills clean to reduce attractive odors.
- Keep bird feeder areas clean. Use feeders designed to keep seed off the ground, as the seed attracts many small mammals coyotes prey upon. Remove feeders if coyotes are regularly seen around your yard.
Police have asked that any coyote sightings be reported to Arlington Animal Control at 781-645-8014.
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