There has been a report of a coyote on Melrose St. It has been there two weeks and is staying in the back yard. The home owner is not feeding it and requests that no one else does! Animal control and wild life officials have been contacted. We have been told that they can not do anything at this point and that if not fed, it will go away on its own. We will continue to follow up with the state. Like most coyotes it is not aggressive to people, however cats and rabbits have disappeared.

Apparently, coyotes are in all counties and most towns of NC. They are not generally a danger to humans. So please:

· Do not feed the coyote or coyotes,

· Do not leave small children unattended,

· Bring all pets in from dusk to dawn.

“Coyotes are curious but timid animals and will generally run away if challenged. However, remember that any wild animal will protect itself or its young. Never instigate a close encounter.

If a coyote ever approaches too closely, pick up small children immediately and act aggressively toward the animal. Wave your arms, throw stones, and shout at the coyote. If necessary, make yourself appear larger by standing up (if sitting) or stepping up onto a rock, stump, or stair. The idea is to convince the coyote that you are not prey, but a potential danger.

Where coyote encounters occur regularly, keep noisemaking and other scare devices nearby. A starter pistol can be effective; so can a vinegar-filled super soaker or a powerful spray of water from a hose. Where pyrotechnics are out of the question, construct a “clapper” (Fig. 5). A solid walking stick, pepper spray, or paintball gun are powerful deterrents at close range.”

The above is from http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/coyotes.htm