Local News
An uptick in coyote encounters has Saugus officials warning pet owners to remain vigilant.
Saugus officials are warning pet owners to take precautions amid a series of coyote attacks that have reportedly left four dogs dead.
In recent weeks, the town has received multiple reports of confrontations between coyotes and small dogs, as well as unwanted interactions between coyotes and humans, Town Manager Scott Crabtree and Saugus’s Animal Control Department said in an public advisory earlier this month. Animal Control Officer Darren McCullough did not respond to requests for comment.
According to The Daily Item, coyotes have attacked six dogs in Saugus recently, and four of those dogs have died as a result. Each attack reportedly took place between dusk and 10 p.m., the newspaper reported.
Lisa Webster, whose 8-year-old Cavalier King Charles spaniel “Sparky” was attacked in her yard and died minutes later, described the “traumatic” moment in an interview with WBZ.
“The coyote came up right behind me, I didn’t even see it coming,” Webster told the news outlet.
Crabtree and Saugus animal control officials urged residents to take precautions to protect themselves and their pets in light of the uptick in coyote activity.
“Residents are encouraged to be extra vigilant of their surroundings as coyotes seek out food sources to bulk up in advance of winter,” they said in their advisory.
The town also shared several tips for keeping coyotes at bay. Chief among them: securing trash bins, removing outdoor food sources, and never letting a dog outside by itself, especially in the early morning and evening.
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) recommends “hazing” coyotes to help reinforce a natural fear of humans.
“Let the coyote know that it is not welcome by making loud noises like blasting an air horn, spraying it with a hose, or tossing small objects near it and physically chasing it away,” MassWildlife advises. “The goal is to scare the animal away, not hurt it.”
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