To Catch a Coyote: Pleasant Ridge Puts Out Live Trap

Pleasant Ridge is hoping chicken will do the trick.

The city has put out one live trap baited with chicken and will put out another Friday if a coyote that's been sighted in the area has not yet been captured, Assistant City Manager Scott Pietrzak said Tuesday. 

"(Oakland County) Animal Control told us to use raw chicken," he said.

Pietrzak said the live trap won't harm the animal. If the coyote takes the bait, it will trigger the door behind him, locking the animal in unharmed.

The trap is placed near where the coyote has been spotted in backyards and traveling near Elm Park, Poplar Park, Oakland Park and in Memorial Park in Pleasant Ridge, City Manager Sherry Ball said.

"We've been getting calls all day of people seeing him," Pietrzak said. "But when a dog barks, (the coyote) seems to run away. He seems to be more scared of us than we are of it."

Yet Bob Lessnau, curator of mammals at the nearby Detroit Zoo, urged caution. "People should watch out because (coyotes) can attack and they will roam around in backyards," he said. "Be aware of your surroundings and don't leave small animals or children unattended until (the coyote) is captured."

For the record, the Detroit Zoo does not keep coyotes.

The coyote is described as looking like a light-colored, medium-size dog. "It is a 30-50 pound animal," Lessnau said.

Ferndale Patch readers have been chiming in throughout the day with various sightings.

Jeff Milo dropped us this: "We saw the coyote on the second block of West Drayton heading toward Pinecrest."

Susan Hibbins Carroll said: "Saw it at the intersection of Oakdale and Kenberton in Pleasant Ridge at 9:30 this morning. We took a good look at each other before it headed south on Oakdale."

Share your coyote-sighting photos with us by e-mailing Terry.Parris@patch.com and we'll add it to the gallery.