SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) -- A number of coyote sightings in Savannah have sparked the attention of many neighbors on social media.
WSAV spoke to residents in Coffee Bluff, one area that has seen an increased number of coyotes. Kathleen Thomas is among those neighbors who have had coyotes a bit too close for comfort.
She told News 3 that spotting a coyote near her home was the last thing on her mind until recently.
“In my yard, I’m having some work done with trees,” Thomas said. “I was informed that there were two in my yard together over two days ago, and this was in the afternoon around 3. They did eventually scatter because they were shooed off, if you will. But they also have been out here prowling and had injured a small pet.”
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She said it now leaves her worried, considering she has a small pet that could potentially be prey.
“We informed most of the neighbors that we could from here all the way down to Coffee Bluff Marina because people often walk their children or have them in strollers, small pets.”
According to the Department of Natural Resources, coyotes are not a cause for concern. They are naturally wary of people.
However, do not feed and approach coyotes, feed pets indoors when possible and close up crawl spaces to prevent coyotes from using them as dens. DNR officials say you can also remove them through animal trapping.
“The one thing that I would tell people is just to be mindful,” Thomas said. “They're out here and we don't normally see coyotes, but so much has changed in the environment that they are being pushed to be in places at times that you would not normally see them.”
Coyotes can also carry diseases that are transmittable to pets and humans through bite or saliva.