A public forum in West Chester Wednesday night became heated as residents, frustrated by coyote attacks on their pets, demanded the Township take some action.
Since August, five dogs and one cat are believed to have been killed by coyotes in three West Chester neighborhoods... Beckett Ridge, Rolling Knolls and West Chester Station. All have wooded areas. Some residents have seen their pets disappear after letting them out into their backyards. Some have even looked on helplessly as their dogs were killed.
Officials with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources fielded questions at the township administration building. One woman brought her dog to show as an example of the coyotes aggressiveness. She says three coyotes attacked her dog and left him with multiple injuries to his legs.
Wildlife experts offered advice, including putting up fences around property and turning on lights outside at night before they let their pets outside. But homeowners say the number of coyotes in their neighborhoods are growing and several residents said they were ready to take matters into their own hands and shoot the coyotes. ODNR and the township advise homeowners to check with authorities before resorting to that action, because the laws regarding firearms in subdivisions may be different than for large pieces of property.
A spokesperson for West Chester says the township will deal with the problem wisely, and will take the advice from ODNR and homeowners. Residents say they'll attend the next Township Trustee meeting on November 17th at 6 p.m. at the administration building.
