Boardman police have sought advice from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) in attempts to deal with an apparent coyote problems that seems to be centered in the area of Applewood Acres.
      There have been at least five, purported coyote sightings in the Applewood area over the past month.
      The most recent was on Fri., July 17 about 6:00 p.m. when a woman who was walking her dog told Ptl. Evan Beil it appeared as though a coyote was chasing her.
      Ptl. Beil, and Ptl. Stephen Dubos found the animal and confirmed it was a coyote that was most likely stalking the woman’s dog, and not chasing after her.
      “We were unable to euthanize the coyote because we did not have a safe shot,” Officer Beil said, adding the animal ran into a wooded area near Trotwood Dr. and Bristlewood Dr.
      Acting at the direction of Lt. John Allsopp, Ptl. Beil contacted Tom Frank, ODNR officer assigned to Mahoning County, to make him aware of the issue and seek advice for best practices to address the problem.
      “Any time there is a nuisance animal, such as a coyote, Officer Frank said the police are authorized to shoot the animal, if we think it is justified, as long as we have a safe shot,” Ptl. Beil said.
      “Officer Frank told us this is the number one problem that he faces in urban townships such as ours, and that he and local officers often cannot get safe shots to dispatch these nuisance animals,” Ptl. Beil said, adding the ODNR officer said the aggressiveness of the coyote sighted in Applewood Acres and its consistent frequenting of a residential neighborhood quality it for being terminated.”
      Jamey Emmert, spokesperson for the ODNR, told The Boardman News that reports of coyote sightings at this time of the year increase in all 88 counties of the state.
      “Coyotes can become habituated and as they learn to tolerate the presence of humans, they learn to live with us,” Emmert said, adding “Unless a coyote approaches a human being and acts aggressively, it should not cause concern.”
      Emmert noted if a coyote continues to approach a human being, “Clap your hands, wave your arms in the air, and the animal will likely turn and run away.” She also urged pet owners to contain their pets.
     
      PICTURED:  COYOTE SIGHTINGS have been reported to Boardman police at least five times within the past 30 days in the Applewood Acres area of Boardman Township.