Fairfield animal control and police warn of 'concerning coyote activity' in Mill Hill Road area
According to Fairfield police, animal control received five separate reports on Friday and Saturday of a coyote approaching people, chasing vehicles or attacking pets, including larger dogs in the Mill Hill Road neighborhood and surrounding area.
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Fairfield police and animal control are warning community members after concerning coyote activity in the Mill Hill Road neighborhood and surrounding area.
While coyote sightings aren't unusual, the specific behavior was. According to police, animal control received five separate reports on Friday and Saturday of a coyote approaching people, chasing vehicles or attacking pets, including larger dogs.
The first happened late Friday afternoon at a home on Mill Hill Road.
"We got an alert from our neighbors that the coyote had gotten into their backyard and chased their dogs around, attacked them, and they ended up in the hospital," Brendon Frey told News 12.
Police said both dogs are expected to recover. So is a dog on nearby Bronson Road that was hurt in its own brush with the animal that evening, per police.
The following morning, a run-in on the paths off Mill Hill ended without injuries but left neighbors concerned.
"The gentleman was running in these trails behind me with their dog and came upon the coyote. The coyote did not back off and in fact, kind of moved toward the gentleman and his dog," Frey explained. "The dog got into a little scuffle with the coyote and then the gentleman and the dog kind of exited the trails, but the coyote followed them out."
Not long after, on Whites Hill Lane, a woman captured video of a coyote going up to her home as her dog watched from the window.
Local wildlife expert Mark Fowler said generally speaking coyotes aren't dangerous, but this situation is different.
"The coyote in Fairfield is highly irregular because it's most likely lost its fear of humans because its been habituated. Usually, that's because people leave food out--pet food, bird feeders, trash," Fowler stated.
Fowler took a look at the video from Whites Hill Lane and said he suspects the coyote is injured or has mange.
"In reality, we don't have to panic. But if I'm from that neighborhood where this specific coyote is, I would be very careful and just call animal control if you see anything. Just keep your dogs inside for a few days until this situation irons itself out," Fowler said.
Fairfield Animal Control can contacted at 203-254-4857. If animal control is unavailable, call the Fairfield Police Department's non-emergency line at 203-254-4800.
The department posted the following tips on Facebook, urging people to use additional caution: keep pets indoors whenever possible; do not leave pets outside unattended, regardless of their size or whether the yard is fenced; keep dogs on a leash and close to you when outside; do not approach, follow, corner or attempt to interact with the coyote; remove outdoor food sources, including pet food and unsecured garbage.
