Numerous Coyote Sightings in Carrboro Cause Concern

Coyotes are becoming more well-known in the Carrboro area, as many residents of the town have reported sightings of the animal in their own backyards.

Orange County Animal Services director Bob Marotto said coyotes are in the area and are more common than they have ever been.

“The question is, how do we coexist with them and what do we do to assure our own safety as well as the safety of our pets,” Marotto said.

Marotto said he wants to inform the public of these sightings to make sure everyone is aware of the danger we can all avoid.

Photo via Orange County

“The main message we want to convey to people is that we don’t ever want coyotes to become comfortable or accustom to us. Like any animal species, they learn through their experience and so one of our goals is to teach them that they want to steer clear of human beings and human habitats,” Marotto said.

Some ways to deter coyotes include “hazing” the animal, which consists of making loud noises to scare the animal away. Marotto said he also recommends to residents that you can reduce the attraction you have to the coyote by removing bird-feeders, keeping pets and their food inside of your house, making sure your garbage is disposed of properly and securing all areas underneath your house.

If you happen to see a coyote, Marotto said he encourages you to make a report using the animal services website.

“We try and pay attention to the patterns that exist in those reports in order to, as a community, will be better able to coexist,” Marotto said.

Orange County Animal Services also provides more information about coyotes, including resources about deterrence and protection on its website.

Numerous Coyote Sightings in Carrboro Cause Concern

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