PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — The Portsmouth Animal Control Unit has recently received numerous calls from residents who have spotted coyotes in various parts of the city.
Animal control says the increase in coyote sightings is partly due to the animals approaching their mating season.
According to Portsmouth Animal Control, their training and authority is dedicated only to domesticated animals. However, animal control does assist with wildlife in instances where the animal is hurt or injured.
On Riveredge Road in Portsmouth there is plenty of wildlife.
“We got all kinds of wildlife out here,” said Steve Carroll, who lives in Wise Beach. We got eagles, fox[es].”
He has seen just about all there is to see.
“I never saw the first coyote out here until two weeks ago,” Carroll said. “Oh, I lived here 67 years and I have never seen one.”
But the city of Portsmouth’s animal control has recently received numerous calls about coyotes through out different areas of the city.
“Well you see people on Facebook commenting about it and they are all up in arms and scared. I get it to a point because they are not used to seeing them. They get a bad reputation then people are scared of them.”
Katie Hoffman, bird and mammal curator at the Virginia Living Museum, said there is a large population of coyotes in Virginia.
She said right now is the breeding season for coyotes, which makes them more active as they search for a mate and more visible in residential neighborhoods.
“Do not leave food out for wild animals,” Hoffman said. “They are attracted to that. Leaving food out will attract rodents, which will attract coyotes. Keeping house pets inside when possible. Coyotes will see small dogs and cats as prey.”
Said Portsmouth resident Pat Iman: “I didn’t even realize we had coyotes in this area.”
Iman has lived in Cypress Cove for 12 years. She has heard of the recent coyote sightings and now keeps a watchful eye on her 14-year-old pug JEB Stuart.
“We just need to be aware of the small pets and watch them like you would a child,” Iman said. “I think they are more afraid of us they we are of them.”
If you do see a coyote in your neighborhood, you may want to keep a close eye on your pets, never feed a coyote and only call 911 if there is an immediate threat. For more information about living near coyotes click here.