SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WXYZ) — There's a coyote looking to get cozy in Shelby Township.
Residents are warning one another to watch for a coyote roaming the area of 24 Mile and VanDyke. Yesterday morning, a viewer woke up to the furry visitor at her doorstep.
According to the state Department of Natural Resources:
Coyotes can be found all over the state of Michigan in rural, urban and suburban areas. They are highly adaptable and territorial. There has never been a report of a coyote attacking a human in the state of Michigan according to the DNR. Shelby Township and Macomb Township have been steadily growing in recent years and that has led to more and more coyote sightings.
Keep these fast facts in mind:
- If a coyote sees its reflection in your window, it might approach, thinking it is challenging another coyote
- You can get an anti-reflection film to put on your window and cut down reflections.
- If you see a coyote: Make a lot of noise. You can shake pennies in a water bottle to scare them and help train them to stay away.
- If coyotes have been seen in your neighborhood: Make sure you don’t leave dog food outside, wait until the last minute to put out the trash, clean up brush piles that attract small animals. Coyotes are attracted to places where they can find small animals/rodents to eat.
- There have never been any reports of a coyote attacking a human in the state of Michigan. They might challenge your dog though. There have been reports of injuries to pets ... small dogs are especially at risk.
- If the coyote is a nuisance and none of the above tips have worked, the DNR has a list of wildlife abatement companies on their website.
If spot the coyote in your neighborhood, contact Shelby Township Police at (586) 731-2121.
