CHESTERFIELD, VA (WTVR) – Brandermill residents said they’ve recently spotted coyotes in the area, including a young pup.
Golfers spotted a young coyote on the fairway at Brandermill Country Club earlier this month, according to the Brandermill Community Association. The association said that the pup scampered away as golfer approached.
The previous week, an adult coyote was spotted by a Fortune’s Ridge resident at the edge of her backyard.
About this time last year, there were several coyote sightings, in Midlothian and near Windsor Farms—not too far from Carytown in Richmond.
There was an attack on pets in the gated community of Lockgreen, not too far from the urban shops of Carytown.
Midlothian resident Merle Hirschman discovered a coyote in her backyard, eating fallen peaches. Hirschman has lived in that neighborhood since 2002 and seen all sorts of wildlife, though never a coyote.
Although experts say that coyotes tend to be more common in rural, western Virginia, they are becoming more prevalent. The frequency in sightings is proportional to an increase in development, and a lack of rural tracts for coyotes, and other animals, to call home, said experts.
Rob Leinberger, Jr., assistant supervisor for Chesterfield County Animal Control suggested not feeding animals outside.
If a coyote becomes accustomed to a food source within a particular area, they will frequent it, which invites dangerous encounters with the wild animals.
Don’t give the creatures opportunities by leaving trash, or open trash containers accessible.
Make sure that your animals are up-to-date with their rabies shots. Animals should be brought in at night.
