Safety & Security: Coyote Warning

Crime Listing
From 1/1/19 – 5/31/19 there have been 13 reported crimes in Providence Plantation. I am happy to report
that this is a 48% decrease in crime from the same time period as last year when 25 crimes were reported.

Coyote Sightings
A coyote carrying a fawn in its mouth was observed in the rear yard of 4700 Wyndfield Lane on the morning of May 23. Additionally, 6 coyote pups were observed near a water drain at the corner of Plantation Rd. & Haymow Court the same day.

Coyote Safety Tips

• Never approach or touch a coyote.

• Never feed coyotes or any wild animals directly or indirectly. Be sure to pick up outside food and

water bowls once pets have been fed.

• Never approach a coyote den. They will respond as a dog responds when a stranger comes to its

home/yard.

• Store trash in covered, heavy-duty animal-proof containers. Add ammonia to trash if animals

have been raiding trash bins. Avoid open compost bins with food scraps.

• Remove thick brush and weeds around homes that may harbor rodents. The presence of rodents

may attract coyotes.

• Keep cats and dogs inside as much as possible. Keep small dogs on a leash when walking them

outside. Do not walk small dogs at dusk or at night. An unattended small dog or cat can be an

easy prey item for a coyote.

• Be a threat: Chase coyotes when you see them. Throw sticks, yell, wave your arms, spray

them with a hose to chase them away. This will help keep a den from being located nearby and

will help them to maintain a level of fear towards humans.

• Fence off outside animal enclosures and include a top. Coyotes can jump a 6’ high fence.

• Enclose the bottoms of porches or decks and maintain outdoor storage sheds in a manner that
prevents animals from using them for cover.

Coyotes are highly adaptable and are generalists in terms of both food needs and overall habitat
requirements. Active usually at dusk and dark, they can often live undetected in close proximity with
humans without any negative interactions. Because of their ability to exploit a great variety of prey
items, coyote diets are extremely diverse. They are opportunistic feeders, often eating what is easiest to
catch. They generally hunt small prey animals like rodents, but they will also eat carrion, fruits, berries,
bird’s eggs, reptiles, amphibians, and insects. In areas with high human populations they may eat fruits
and vegetables from gardens as well as refuse from trash cans and dump sites. Coyotes have been
documented in some instances preying on livestock and domesticated animals. In some area, cats and
very small dogs can be vulnerable to predation, particularly if left out at night.

Human / Coyote Interactions
Coyotes exhibit little fear of humans. Encounters with coyotes should be treated the same as with any
other wild animal. Back slowly away from them and leave them alone. Under normal conditions, coyotes
do not present a danger to people and bites from coyotes are very rare. However, caution is always
warranted. Coyotes can become aggressive if they are cornered, or if they feel threatened near their
den. Also, an individual affected by disease or pain from an injury can display aggressive actions. In the
event a coyote becomes aggressive, back slowly away while yelling and waving your arms. Throw rocks
sticks, or other objects. Do not run. Call 911 as soon as possible to get help from Animal Control.

Note: CMPD Animal Control will not respond to coyote sightings unless they are being aggressive towards a human.

Please continue to report all incidents of crime to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department.

Call 911 to report:
• A crime that is in progress
• A crime that is about to happen
• Domestic violence
• Fire
• Injured person
• Life and death situations
• Medical emergencies
• Missing person
• Someone breaking into or entering your home or business
• Stolen vehicle
• Suspect who is still on the scene
• Traffic accidents

Call 311 to report:
• Assault (minor)
• Fraud
• Financial Identity Theft
• Receipt of a worthless check over $2,000
• Someone you know took your vehicle
• To add to an existing report

You can also file an online police report
• Communicating Threats
• Harassing Phone Calls
• Damage to Property
• Stolen Property
• Theft from Vehicle
• Lost Passport or Driver’s License

Also, please notify me so that this information can be passed on to the off duty officers that patrol our neighborhood. I can be contacted at 849-9234, between 9am and 9pm, or you can email me at hkatowitz@windstream.com. Whenever possible, please furnish me with the police incident number for any reported crimes.

Harvey Katowitz
Security Chairperson