Coyotes ugly; Animal control debate dominates Selectmen meeting in Nahant

NAHANT – Some residents want the coyotes in town eradicated but police and wildlife experts believe the animals are not a public safety threat.There was almost 90 minutes of animated discussion about what to do about the coyotes in town at the Board of Selectmen meeting Thursday evening.Laura Hajduk, a fur-bearer biologist for the state Division of Fish and Wildlife and Police Chief Robert Dwyer were on hand to address concerns about recent coyote activity in the area.Maolis Road resident Gerard Alimenti said he had a coyote stalk him as he walked his dog on a leash.?It has lost its fear of people,” Alimenti said. “It approaches people walking a dog on a leash. I believe it’s going to get more serious.”Susan Tracy, who also lives on Maolis Road, said she saw a coyote in the middle of the afternoon with a group of more than a dozen people.?They are following us and it’s frightening,” she said.Cary Street resident Michael Dunfee said on Halloween he was out with his two sons when he observed the coyote “tracking” a man walking a dog on a leash.Paul Caira, who lives near the golf course, said the family cat was torn to pieces on the golf course by a coyote and he urged the selectmen to remove the animals.His wife Elaine Caira added the coyote has also been seen at the playground.Willow Road resident John Dolan was unnerved by his coyote sightings.?We’re really concerned,” he said. “A neighbor saw it with a cat in its mouth.”Selectman Richard Lombard wanted the animals removed immediately.?Something is going to happen,” he said. “I feel it. People are afraid? This isn’t Russia. We shouldn’t be in fear of anything. This is America.”Hajduk explained Nahant is not unique and coyotes are present in every town in the state with the exception of the islands.Hajduk explained the coyote does not have any natural predators in the Massachusetts so it does not flee instinctively. She said area residents should “harass” the animals by throwing things in their direction and making lots of noise.?Coyotes are here,” she said. “It is difficult to go in and selectively remove them.”Hajduk explained the state policy is to eliminate coyotes that are a public safety threat and she does not believe the coyotes in town are a public safety threat.Dwyer agreed with Hajduk. He said the coyotes flee when police officers sound a siren, beep their horns or bang on the car.?At this point the animal is running from us,” he said. “At this point I don’t think it’s a threat. If it’s not a threat we’re not going to take the animal out.”Hajduk said education on how to co-exist with coyotes is the best course of action and the selectmen voted to have the Division of Fish and Wildlife come in and do a community presentation on coyotes in the near future.