Alpharetta is advising residents that at this time of year, coyotes are having pups and are on the prowl for food. People should not leave out garbage, pet food or small pets that could be grabbed for a meal, even from fenced yards.
Coyotes, while shy, are “amazingly intelligent and can easily find ways to get inside fenced areas if they see potential food or other reasons to get inside,” the city says.
Because the animals typically pose no threat to humans, Alpharetta does not support or endorse coyote eradication programs. It discourages residents from hiring professional trappers unless an animal appears aggressive; remove one coyote, and another will show up to take its place.
“Coyotes are a natural part of our environment and serve a very useful purpose, controlling the population of small animals and maintaining a balance in their habitat,” the city says. “The best thing that we can do as residents is learn to safely coexist by not encouraging human interaction and enjoying the occasional coyote sighting from a safe distance.”
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