Relocation is Still Best Option for Cliff the Coyote, RI SPCA Chief Says

NEWPORT, RI—The odyssey of Cliff the Coyote may still end at a zoo, but work continues to find a suitable home, according to Narragansett Bay Coyote Study's Numi Mitchell.

In a Facebook post Tuesday morning, Mitchell wrote "still working till on a good solution for Cliff… If you see him thank you for not feeding".

Cliff, who has lost his fear of humans due to illegal feeding, has been declared a danger to the public. Earlier this month, it looked like Cliff would end up shot and killed by police after Mitchell's recommendation and an investigation by Middletown police.

Dr. E.J. Finocchio, head of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, also weighed in and indicated relocating Cliff would be a better option than killing him.

"Relocation has its drawbacks," Finocchio said, "but we feel it is better than euthanizing him. You can only relocate a wild animal to a zoo from my understanding of the law."

He predicted Cliff would thrive in a new setting.

"Coyotes can adjust fairly well to new situations, so I am all in favor of giving him a second chance and keeping him and others out of harms way," Finocchio said. "The bottom line is people have to be educated about wildlife and not enable them by providing food or shelter."

Middletown police Chief Anthony Pesare conducted his own investigation and interviewed individuals who had complained about Cliff coming too close for comfort. Last week, he gave the order to destroy Cliff but rescinded it after some 39,000 people signed a petition to save him and Newport City Councilor John Florez started a Go Fund Me page to pay the costs of the relocation, estimated at $8,000. Most of the money has already been pledged.

Cliff has not injured anyone and has been described as "benign and clueless."

Gail Mastrati, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Management, said Tuesday "we continue to work with partners on a final plan for the animal."

Photo courtesy: Tracy Donovan O'Malley