Coyotes are being spotted in more populated areas in Tulsa.
People have emailed FOX23 News writing they spotted them on 58th and Sheridan and 11th and Sheridan and 71st and Riverside. That’s where FOX23’s Adam Paluka spotted three of them together.
He tweeted about it on November 11th.
“Just saw a pack (3) of coyotes outside my apartment. It was odd ... they were just walking north together like they owned the place.”
What he did not mention was that his dog, Penny, was with him. He called Oklahoma Wildlife Control LLC.’s Reginald Murray.
“They are becoming more and more acclimated; they are not scared of us,” said Murray. “What concerns me about Adam, is when he told me they were following him because they are not following him, they are following his little dog; and Adam being a concerned pet owner, he would have stood in between his dog and the coyotes. Then he is putting himself in danger.”
Murray says the coyotes are moving into populated areas because of their diet change. This time of year they eat more protein so now they are after animals, like your pets. They will come after rodents that go after your trash.
Down along Riverside the apartments and the casino provide a perfect breeding ground for the coyotes because of the trash, people’s pets, and the riverfront, which allows them space to see their prey.
“Coyotes like a 360 degree view of their environment,” said Murray. The riverfront makes it easy for them to ambush prey.”
In general, he says coyotes do not attack humans unless they are in the way of their prey. He also said there is an increase in attacks on humans. Studies show there are about 12 a year. Murray recommends not feeding them and also making sure you know what they look like.
He said Adam should not be concerned about seeing three together. They normally hunt alone or in pairs. If he saw three, they must have just merged together at some point, possibly all after the same scent.
