Community

Coyote Spotted in Woodsdale Neighborhood

WHEELING - A coyote spotted in the backyard of a Hawthorne Court resident in the Woodsdale area has residents concerned.

While portions of Hawthorne Court are situated against a wooded hillside, residents said they are accustomed to seeing deer, but not coyotes. The resident who took the picture on Tuesday said she also found a chewed up deer carcass on her back patio on Sunday morning.

She believes the coyote had come back to finish off the deer. The resident alerted her immediate neighbors of the situation and warned that they should be mindful of their pets.

Pete Cuffaro, a commissioner with the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, said coyotes have become "a nuisance."

Cuffaro said about 20 years ago, coyotes began migrating west to east and are plentiful, especially in the Ohio Valley. While some believe coyotes are nocturnal animals -- only hunting at night -- Cuffaro said that's not so.

"While they are elusive, they are pretty brash, coming into people's neighborhoods. People need (to) watch letting their pets out. Coyotes will kill a dog or cat."

He said coyotes will chase down a deer, exhausting it and then killing it. Coyotes also will target an injured animal. They usually run in packs with an alpha male leading the way.

"There is a pecking order with coyotes. Even if you destroy the alpha male, another will take the lead," he said.

Cuffaro said coyotes have keen eyesight and are not easy to hunt, which is the only way to control populations. Coyotes can be harvested year-round in West Virginia.

Coyotes can wreak havoc on dairy and beef farmers' herds if not kept in check, Cuffaro added. He said he often hears coyotes "yipping" at night from his Ohio County home. He warns that coyotes resemble a German shepherd, and hunters must know the difference before pulling the trigger on a hunt.

A few weeks ago, a black bear was spotted on Edgington Lane, also prompting residents to be aware of their surroundings.