Coyote alert in Fortune's Ridge

Posted June 3, 2012 at 8:45 AM, Filed Under: Front Page, Village Mill

A Fortune’s Ridge resident has notified her neighbors that a coyote was on open space at the edge of her backyard this week. Her husband called Chesterfield County Animal Control and was told coyotes are native to the area.

In the past two years, residents’ pets have encountered wild animals including a fox and a raccoon that attacked a cat, which had to be euthanized due to rabies. Last year a cat in Muirfield Green was mauled and killed by an unknown animal.

This time of year is mating season for wild animals and they become more territorial.

Play it safe and heed the advice of Animal Control Officer Price:

Do not feed pets outdoors. If you do, remove the bowl as soon as the pet has eaten.

Bring pets inside at night if you see wildlife.

Make sure pets’ rabies shots are up-to-date.

Secure trash cans with a bungee cord to deter wildlife from coming around.