Coyote attacks spur closing of Amherst trail

By SCOTT MERZBACH
and OWEN BOSS
Staff Writers

AMHERST — The Ken Cuddeback Trail in South Amherst has been closed temporarily after a coyote twice attacked dogs being walked in the area over the last week.

Animal Welfare officer Carol Hepburn said Monday she requested the conservation trail be temporarily closed out of concern for the safety of smaller dogs.

The first report came April 26 at 12:52 p.m. after the coyote bit a dog, which was later brought to a veterinarian for evaluation and treatment. A Labrador retriever was attacked two days later. Hepburn said both dogs are expected to recover.

After the second attack, Hepburn said, she and a state wildlife official attempted to locate the coyote.

“I’m trying to remove the coyote from the area,” Hepburn said.

She has also gone to the area twice with police officers. Though the coyote has been seen, it has fled into the woods when spotted.

Hepburn said there is no evidence that the coyote is aggressive toward humans, but she still would like to deal with the coyote before reopening the trail.

The KC Trail, as it is often called, runs through the Hop Brook and Wentworth Farm conservation areas and passes between Shays Street, South East Street, Potwine Lane and Middle Street.

According to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife’s website, the eastern coyote moved into the central and western part of the state in the 1950s and now exists in every town except for those on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. They pose little threat to humans but have been known to attack household pets.

The majority of coyotes found locally are the size of a medium-sized dog, but with longer, thicker fur. They have a long, bushy, black-tipped tail that is usually carried pointing down and are typically between 4 and 5 feet in length and weigh between 33 and 40 pounds, according to the website.

Although they are known to feed on whatever is available, including fruit, berries and small rodents, they are also known to prey on unprotected pets, unsecured garbage and pet food left outdoors.

According to the website, coyotes are territorial but habitually shy and elusive. They occupy territories ranging from 2 to 30 miles and typically breed in February and March, yielding litters of up to eight pups in April or May.

In Massachusetts, the coyote hunting season opens on the first Saturday after Columbus Day and closes on the following March 8. In 2007 and 2008, however, the DFW extended coyote season by five weeks and both years resulted in state records for total number killed.

To prevent conflicts with coyotes, the DFW urges state residents to secure their garbage, never try to feed or pet a coyote, keep household pets restrained and pet food indoors if possible, fence in livestock and produce, and alert neighbors if one is seen in or around the neighborhood.

If an area resident is ever threatened by a coyote, public safety officials including local police departments and the state Environmental Police have the authority to respond and put down the animal. However, according to regulations pertaining to the handling of problem animals, coyotes taking pets are not considered an immediate threat to human safety and therefore safety officials are not authorized to remove them.