Coyote population on the rise in city

STEUBENVILLE - A woman walking her dog at Jim Wood Park said the eerie howls sent shivers up her back and prompted her to return to home.

A Lincoln Heights resident used to hear howling coming from Beatty Park, and a Hollywood Boulevard resident has been hearing howls coming from a nearby wooded area.

A growing coyote population is making a home in the wooded and brushy areas of the city, according to officials.

City residents have reported hearing yipping and distinctive howling of the coyotes that move after dark through areas of the city in search of food and dens for their April and May litters.

According to Police Chief William McCafferty, the police department has recorded a number of reports from city residents who have seen coyotes in backyards.

And while the coyotes can usually be heard at a distance and occasionally spotted after dark, there has been one recent report of coyotes in the city cornering an injured deer.

"We had a report of a deer hit by a car on Sunset Boulevard in early February. Approximately one week later a call came in that coyotes had cornered a deer in the Devonshire Road area," said McCafferty.

"Our officer responded and found the deer with two broken legs from an apparent collision and bite marks on the hindquarters. We believe the coyotes found the injured deer and were waiting for it to die," added McCafferty.

That isn't the normal practice for the coyotes who are moving into more and more urban areas of Ohio.

"Coyotes don't want to get hurt going after food," explained Tim Stevens, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources wildlife officer for Jefferson County. "They have very strong survival instincts. They may go after groundhogs, rabbits or even small dogs or cats if they feel they can carry the animal off to a secluded place.

"If a resident is worried about coyotes in the area my advice is to keep small pets inside after dusk. I would also advise people to not leave pet food or open garbage or anything else to be eaten outside to attract the coyotes," said Stevens.

He noted it isn't surprising to hear of coyotes living in the city.

"If you look at an aerial map of Steubenville, the housing is pretty much located near the Ohio River and on the hilltops and ridges. There are a lot of wooded areas in the city that are perfect habitats for coyotes. And they are very good at staying out of sight and living quietly among a human population without drawing attention," said Stevens.

"I know the coyote population has grown since I have been here. And while they are not a native of Ohio, the coyote population has grown considerably over the past 30 to 40 years," noted Stevens.

According to the ODNR Web site, coyotes can weigh between 20 to 50 pounds and have a life expectancy of three to 10 years.

"The characteristic lonely howl can be deceiving. The way the sound of the howl carries, it can seem as if the cry is coming miles away from where the coyote is actually located," according to the Web site.

"Coyotes like to live in wooded areas and near a water source, and Steubenville provides that. By traveling primarily at night they are quite adaptable at avoiding contact with humans. They normally avoid any contact with humans," said Stevens.

"As far as dealing with coyotes as a nuisance, the laws in Ohio are quite liberal. They can be hunted in the country, but I certainly wouldn't recommend hunting them in the city," Stevens noted.

McCafferty agreed and suggested city residents who have an issue with coyotes should contact the ODNR.

(Gossett can be contacted at dgossett@heraldstaronline.com.)