“By the time I got there, he was already gone,” she said. “It was so terrible. I couldn’t do anything to stop it.”
Landwehr, a resident of Old Forest Lane in West Chester Twp. since 1999, is afraid to go out at night and wants to see the problem removed entirely.
“I still see their coyote prints on my deck and that’s scary,” she said. “Something’s got to be done.”
With other pets in the subdivision disappearing or being killed, Landwehr is not alone in that sentiment.
Dennis Bender, president of the Beckett Ridge HOA, said he’s been in contact with residents in various other parts of the township and that Beckett Ridge is not the only area that’s been affected.
He said a dog on Old Forest Lane was taken by the coyotes over the weekend.
“When is it going to be a little toddler? (That) is really the issue I think everybody’s getting to,” Bender said.
Mark Simonovich, of Owl Nest Drive, said the pack is not only getting larger, but it’s also getting closer to homes and a pathway through the woods frequented by teens.
“As the pack gets larger, I’m a little concerned about what could happen if there’s a high school student going through there by themselves,” Simonovich said. “I know that coyotes are not generally aggressive towards people, but these particular coyotes have demonstrated that … they don’t necessarily have that healthy fear of people that they should. They’re coming right up to the fence line, cutting right through back yards.”
Jack Weiss, of Old Forest Lane, said coyotes have been an issue in his Beckett Ridge neighborhood for about six months.
“We’ve had some websites to look into, some things you should do and shouldn’t do, to prevent these things from happening and yet the threat is still there,” Weiss said. “Our concern is that they’re getting more aggressive, and they’re in our own back yard.”
Coyotes are common throughout Ohio’s 88 counties in both rural and urban settings, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Wildlife.
To prevent a coyote from returning, remove “attractants” such as garbage and pet food before nightfall and clean up around the grill.
Although coyotes mainly eat small mammals such as rabbits and mice, small pets also may be taken. Owners of small dogs and cats should keep their pet inside or stay with them at night when coyotes are most active.
While curious, coyotes are usually afraid of humans. Shouting, banging pots or clapping one’s hand can discourage a coyote investigating a yard.
If the aforementioned options do not work, call the Division of Wildlife at 1-800-945-3543 to locate a nuisance trapper.
Judi Boyko, West Chester’s administrator, said the township in 2010 started discussing the issue of coyotes in residential areas, most prevalently on the east side of Interstate 75, Boyko said. To help educate and inform residents, township officials invited an ODNR representative to visit and help educate and inform residents. Another such visit is already planned for 7 p.m. March 26 at township hall.
“From an educational perspective, we’re quite confident that we’ve done what we can do,” Boyko said. “From an eradication perspective, that’s where I think the complexity comes.”
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