Coyote Attacks, Kills Sheep At Dearborn's Greenfield Village: Official

DEARBORN, MI — Officials at the Henry Ford Museum are on high alert after a sheep at the Greenfield Village was killed Tuesday morning by a wild coyote.

Museum officials said the incident is the first of its kind and that no other animals were injured in the attack.

"Given this recent incident, The Henry Ford has put additional measures in place to thwart future issues," museum officials said in a statement. "The institution is in communication with City of Dearborn officials and Michigan's Department of Natural Resources regarding this incident and coyotes in the greater community."

The attack comes as Dearborn city officials are discussing ways to best deal with the growing coyote issue. Officials said there are two decisive ways to deal with the problem: either work with the community to deter the coyotes from their yards or forcibly remove them, such as trapping them.

Officials said they have not received any reports of coyotes attacking humans in the area, but did hear that small pets were being attacked by coyotes.

"Some residents have said their house pets were attacked by coyotes, there have been sightings of coyotes eating feral cats (could have been pets?), and others have expressed anxiety with coyotes roaming their backyards/streets/local park given they have small children and pets," Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said on Facebook.

Hammoud added that the city has not signed a contract with an outside agency to trap/capture the coyotes, but said the police department has had talks with vendors about possible options.

Officials with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said residents should clean around their home and remove any food sources that may attract small animals and prey for coyotes.