No Reason To Be Alarmed By Coyote Presence In Montgomery County: Officials

Police in Cheltenham Township said that their office is receiving an increasing amount of calls related to the growing coyote population in the area.

Residents are concerned for the safety of children and pets, and over the possibility of rabies, police said.

Aside from times when they become dependent on humans, however, wildlife biologists note that coyotes are relatively amicable creatures that are not aggressive to humans.

Pennsylvania Game Commission wildlife biologist Tom Hardisky even corrected the common assumption that coyotes are aggressive around their young.

"That's not true," he said. "They can easily be scared off. In every case where a coyote has been a problem, it was in an area where coyotes were fed by humans. That’s the biggest threat.”

Coyotes are a natural part of the ecosystem in Pennsylvania, but an increased presence in urban and suburban areas has a less than a natural cause.

Human sloppiness is the primary contributing factor to increased coyote activity in Montgomery County and across Pennsylvania, according to Hardisky.

Hardisky said two main human habits contribute to an increase in coyote sightings and coyote-human interaction: garbage left outside and unsecured, and pet food left on the porch and available for anything that comes along in the night.

Residents are reminded there is no reason to call law enforcement if you see a coyote unless it is acting sick and potentially rabid.

Image courtesy Cheltenham Police Department.