Appleton Police say they received a call from a resident on Monday, near the south side of Appleton, reporting a coyote in their yard.
Police say coyotes aren't the only wildlife they have in the city. They also have opossums, raccoons, skunks, foxes and deer.
While no coyote issues have been reporter, police are giving a couple of tips from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources webpage for reducing possible problems with urban coyotes.
DO NOT FEED WILDLIFE
• Do not store pet food out of doors, and keep pet food bowls inside when not in use.
• Do not keep trash out of doors, or keep it secure with tight-fitting lids.
• Do not provide food and water for other wildlife. Rodents are attracted to bird seed, and they are a coyote’s natural prey. Coyotes will also eat bird seed, fruit, and compost for an easy meal.
PROTECT YOUR PETS
• Keep cats indoors and watch dogs when outdoors. Only leave pets unattended when they are secure in a kennel with a covered
top.
DISCOURAGE COYOTES
• Clear brush and undergrowth in your yard that can provide cover for coyotes or habitat for important coyote prey species.
• Scare tactics can be used if you see a coyote in your yard or while out walking. Yell and make loud noises, shake or throw
pop cans filled with coins, throw a ball, shoe, sticks or other object in the direction of the coyote and/or spray the coyote with water. You can also buy ultrasonic dog repellents or pocket-sized air horns.
• Fencing 6–7 feet high and buried approximately 1 foot deep can help keep all but the most determined coyotes out of an area.
• Pick up all fallen fruit from fruit trees, keep compost secure, and make sure trash cans are tightly lidded and secure. Never leave loose trash outside.
APPLETON POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICIES
Wild Animals
A. Chapter 29, Wis. Stats., applies to wild animals and designates the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as the agency responsible for controlling wild animals and enforcing related laws.
B. Except where they pose an imminent threat to public health or safety (as outlined in Section F), department personnel will not respond to wild animals at large.
C. Property owners, tenants, or lessees, as applicable, shall be responsible for resolving all wild animal problems occurring on their land or in their structures, if the problems do not pose an imminent threat to public safety.
D. When complainants call the department for wild animal problems not posing an imminent threat to the public, they will be referred to the DNR or private businesses dealing with animal or pest control.
