Coyotes Spotted In Upper Providence

UPPER PROVIDENCE, PA — Police are urging residents to be cautious with their dogs and especially smaller pets after coyote sightings in the Upper Providence area. Despite the alarmed reactions to the sightings by some residents, coyotes are common throughout Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley, and have always thrived in the "borderlands" environment where the suburbs meet forests.

Upper Providence police said the most recent "unconfirmed" sighting came on Longacre Drive, just off Hopwood Road in the Collegeville section of the township.

"Coyotes are on the rise in urban and suburban areas," said Tom Hardisky, a wildlife biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission. "And a lot of it is our fault."

While woods provide cover and shelter and occasionally food, cities and suburban areas provide more consistent sources of food. Humans leave edible garbage everywhere: overflowing trash cans, dumpsters, at the front curb. And because coyotes are very smart and very fast, they know when they can get away with stealing what they need to survive.

Eastern coyote populations have boomed in urban and suburban areas across the United States over the past century. As development continues to expand, coyote populations nevertheless flourish; like deer, they are uniquely adapted to edge habitats, or the area at the edge of the woods and development.

Coyotes can potentially be dangerous to pets, especially those on the smaller side. However, aside from times when they become dependent on humans, coyotes are relatively amicable creatures that are not aggressive toward people. Hardisky even corrected a past police report that stated coyotes are aggressive around their young.

"That's not true," he said. "They can easily be scared off."

If you see a coyote coming toward you, do not back away, as some reports may suggest. Wildlife biologists recommend that you stand your ground, make yourself appear large, and make a lot of noise.

Coyotes have been known to carry rabies, so coyotes that are acting particularly unusual should be immediately reported.

Ultimately, Hardisky's advice for the welfare of humans, wild animals, and pets alike amounted to three little words:

"Keep animals wild," he said.

AP Photo/John Miller