To Kill or Not To KIll: Upscale New Yorkers Debate Over Coyote

Mar 02, 2015 03:03 AM EST

(Photo : desertusa.com) Coyotes have been spotted in Chappaqua, New York City

Residents of Chappaqua in New York City have raised the alarm over the issue of roaming coyotes in their upscale neighborhood.

At least 100 spotting of the wild animal have been made the past two years, while about 10 pets have been attacked by the coyotes.

The issue is not just discussed in public hearings but also over social media as residents talk of a coyote jihad or a death map.

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A local task force had suggested that the animal be trapped and killed, AP reports.

The sightings stretched to as as far as the Central Park in New York City and the streets of Bronx.

Wildlife officials attributed the spread of the coyotes in populated East Coast areas to the demise of predators, such as wolves and cougars, in the last few decades.

The debate has divided the community - known for being the residence if Bill and Hillary Clinton - into a group that seeks protection for the coyotes and another group pushing for protection of pets, New Castle Town supervisor Robert Greenstein reports.

The New Castle Coyote Management Task Force advocates the use of lethal solutions before the coyotes attack humans.

At least one menacing coyote has been observed to be circling the playground, stalking the children and attacking the Havanese dog of task force member Ann Styles Brochstein.

As a result, residents have to change their lifestyle in terms of bringing out the garbage, backyard barbecues and walking the kids from the bus.

But the New Castle Coyote Awareness and Safety Advisory Committee pushes for more tolerance as it noted attacks on humans are unusual.

The committee also encouraged residents to keep their pets on leash to limit encounters, but it is open to culling coyotes that kill humans and pets.

Victoria Alzapiede, chairwoman of the advisory committee, said that the community must not penalize the coyotes for grabbing a small dog, which is in the animal's nature.

Coyote expert Dan Bogan said that coyotes won't be gone or go anywhere else and people have to learn to co-exist with the animals.