A coyote on the prowl in Boston's West Roxbury neighborhood has prompted concern from homeowners.
Since September, residents in the area of Newfield Street said they have spotted the same coyote, walking with a distinctive limp, roaming throughout their neighborhood.
"You can't even go for a walk without being worried about it. It's very stressful. It's unbelievably stressful," said longtime resident Sherry Horn.
While there have been no coyote attacks reported, families with small children and dogs said they have become cautious when they're going outside.
"He's big, too. A lot of coyotes that I've seen have been kind of mangy and skinny, but he looks like he's eating something," said parent Jeff Mikalaitis.
Due to federal wildlife protections and state statute, animal control officers cannot remove the coyote. However, for several weeks, they have been trying to trap it in order to provide treatment for what appears to be a fractured leg.
"You can't relocate wildlife. Not only is it illegal, it's also not what's in the best interest of wildlife," said Amanda Kennedy, director of Boston Animal Care and Control.
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Instead, the city plans to continue monitoring the situation. They believe someone is likely feeding the coyote, which continues to attract it to the area. They're urging residents to secure trash in order to deter the coyote from returning. Unless it attacks, it will likely be left alone by the city.
"The likelihood of that happening is really slim," explained Kennedy. "To my knowledge, the only time we've ever had a coyote attack a person was when that animal was rabid."
