5 coyotes caught in Wauwatosa during first 3 weeks of trapping

 

WAUWATOSA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Another dog was attacked by a coyote in Wauwatosa's Fisher Woods neighborhood. It happened Thursday, Jan. 27 near 119th and Cherry St. 

In December a Yorkie was attacked and killed in a backyard, and this time a Golden Retriever was injured. 

Shauna Kleinhas lives on Cherry Street. She says Thursday she saw a coyote run down the block, and it was moments later that she saw a neighbor's dog had been attacked. 

"They're aggressive, now they're going after large dogs, not just small ones. And now we're in fear of small children because they're just not holding back," said Kleinhas. 

CBS 58 originally talked to Kleinhas earlier this month about the nuisance coyotes. She said she hasn't walked her dog since the Yorkie was killed. Now, three weeks later she's still on high alert. 

"They need to pick up the pace on trapping them," said Kleinhas. "If it's not working, what they're currently doing, maybe try something differently because people are still terrified and scared." 

The city of Wauwatosa is working to remove the nuisance coyotes. According to a spokesperson for the city, the trapping company has four traps out in the area. As of Monday, Jan. 31, five coyotes have been caught. 

We asked Nathan Holoubek, Wisconsin's Department of Natural Resources' wildlife biologist, about that number. He says it's not surprising. 

"We have a lot of habitat that is very conducive for coyotes, and they've actually begun expanding into urban areas because they've adapted to learn how to live around humans," said Holoubek. 

He said it's common for coyotes to live surprisingly closely to humans, and many times people don't even know it. 

Many people in the area have blamed construction of a new apartment building for disturbing the coyotes' habitat.

Once the coyotes are caught, they are killed.

Wildlife advocates say trapping and killing is inhumane, and it isn't the answer to the problem.