'Aggressive' Coyote Shot And Killed In Cheltenham Township

CHELTENHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — A coyote that authorities said was behaving aggressively in Cheltenham Township was shot and killed, authorities confirmed.

Numerous reports about the coyote wandering in the Wyncote section of the township came in last Friday.

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Specifically, the coyote was in the area of Curtis Park, Hopeland Road, Washington Lane, and Rock Creek Drive.

Police were not able to find the coyote at first, despite the use of drones.

The PA Game Commission later joined the search.

CBS News reports the coyote later attacked a dog before police tracked it down and killed it.

It's not yet confirmed if the coyote was rabid or had another illness that caused its aberrant behavior.

Attacks on humans are extraordinarily rare, as it is simply not in the coyote's nature to be confrontational with humans. By far the greater threat coyotes pose is to smaller pets, as they may view animals as prey.

While coyotes are classified as carnivores, they are more truly omnivore generalists, and are as happy to subsist on plants, berries, and insects as they are on mice, birds, and deer.

Coyotes typically are around 20 to 25 pounds, but some can grow as big as 50 pounds.