Responding to repeated calls about missing cats and dogs in North Greenwood, the city is joining forces with Tyler Murphy, a state conservation officer, to deal with an invasion of coyotes.
The wild animals, which were first sighted last year, are coming into the city looking for food left in backyards for family pets. In the process, the coyotes are probably taking some pets, Mayor Carolyn McAdams said.
Locations of recent sightings include Weightman and Poplar streets, she said.
“This is something we’re going to have to address,” she said.
Murphy said this morning that the three city-provided traps, baited with food provided by Leflore County Justice Court Judge Jim Campbell, are already in place.
He said loose dogs, attracted by the bait, compound the problem of luring the coyotes to the traps.
“There were several dogs out there. We need to put them up until we get the coyotes under control,” Murphy said.
Allowing dogs to run loose is also a violation of the city’s animal control law.
Right now, he said, the traps are not active, in the hopes that coyotes will become familiar with them. After a while, the traps will be set. Murphy said any dog accidentally trapped will be turned loose.
A number of wild animals are making inroads into Greenwood.
Rob Spiller, a North Greenwood resident, said he spotted what appeared to be a fox about a week ago in his backyard on Weightman.
“It ran off really fast,” he said.
Spiller saw what he thought was a coyote Sunday night.
Monday night, he saw what appeared to be a fox near attorney Lee Abraham’s house on Grand Boulevard.
The mayor thanked Murphy for taking the time to help the city.
“He could not have been more accommodating,” McAdams said.
• Contact Bob Darden at 581-7239 or bdarden@gwcommonwealth.com.
