Town leaders in Warren have heard complaints about coyotes in the Laurel Park neighborhood. (WJAR)
There have been complaints of coyotes in the Laurel Park neighborhood of Warren.
One resident took her concerns to the Town Council last week, saying it needs to do something about it. She said she's seen multiple cats in the area go missing.
"I would say in the last couple months maybe a dozen sightings," Lt. Roy Borges told NBC 10 News.
Borges said, unfortunately, coyotes do come to the area at times.
"Throughout the summer we see them here and there through parts of the town," Borges said.
But he said it's the responsibility of residents to stay smart about things and not leave food outside their homes because that can attract the animals.
NBC 10 News went to the Bay Road home of the complainant, but she wasn't there. We did observe several dishes of cat food at the front and back doors of the home, which the town manager said can certainly aide in attracting the animals.
"You can debate it back and forth as to if your cats should be able to go outside. But the fact of the matter is, it attracts the animals and puts pets at risk. It's something they have control over. Some people even put food outside for their pets, and it's an absolute no-no,” Town Manager Jan Reitsma said.
Reitsma said while it's the responsibility of the state Department of Environmental Management, police still respond to every report of a coyote sighting in case they need to disperse the animal.
He said they will stay in contact with the DEM to monitor the problem and make sure there is nothing else they can do to help.
