NAHANT — Nahant Police are warning residents to take caution after receiving an increased number of reports of coyote sightings in town.
Patrol officers saw a pack of four coyotes on Nahant Road near the Nahant Country Club Monday night around 11 p.m., according to a statement from the Nahant Police Department
“Coyotes will be very active this time of year,” the statement said.
Marion Larson, chief of information and education for Mass Wildlife, said coyotes first came to Massachusetts in the 1950s and have been known to exist in every town in the state, except for the islands, for at least the past two decades.
Larson said coyote sightings, and calls to Mass Wildlife, tend to stay on a trend that follows the coyotes’ life cycle.
In the spring, when coyote pups are just about to be born, the department gets a fair amount of calls because the animals tend to be more visible and territorial.
By January, more people are hearing them — it’s mating time.
And in late summer, when young ones are out of the den and learning to hunt with the adults, they are seen more frequently, said Larson.
To avoid attracting coyotes, do not feed or try to pet them, secure your garbage, keep bird feeding areas clean, close off crawl spaces under porches and sheds, cut back bushy edges, protect livestock and produce, and don’t hesitate to scare or threaten them with loud noises, bright lights, or hose-sprayed water.
For pet owners, the division suggests keeping pets leashed when outside and avoiding outdoor feeding.
For more information on coyotes in Massachusetts, visit here.
