More Coyote Attacks Reported in St. Louis Park

Two dogs have recently been attacked by coyotes in St. Louis Park, with one dog getting killed in the Bronx Park Neighborhood, according to the city's Facebook page.

The other dog was attacked near Jersey Avenue South, the city reported Wednesday.

Last year, another dog was near Cedar Lake Road. The attacks highlight what the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources calls an “increasing” coyote population in the Twin Cities. While the state hasn't documented a human attack, a number of coyote attacks on pets—like those in St. Louis Park—have been reported in the past few years.

That’s why the DNR, along with local entities such as the city of St. Louis Park, are trying to raise awareness about coyotes.

“We’re trying to educate people,” said Jim Vaughan, St. Louis Park’s environmental coordinator, in an interview last year.

The city currently has a web page dedicated to dealing with coyotes, with information coming from the DNR. Recommendations include securing garbage containers, supervising pets when they’re outside and harassing coyotes when they're around.

Preventing coyotes from becoming comfortable in a residential setting is key, said Dan Stark, a wolf specialist with the DNR.

“They’re fairly adaptable,” he said. “They become more accustomed to humans over time.”

But even if people make an effort to scare coyotes off, there is no guarantee they’ll leave the Twin Cities. As development pushes outward, Stark said, more natural coyote habitat gets swallowed up. Also, an urban area has a number of readily available food sources for coyotes, ranging from small animals to garbage—a recipe for coyotes staying put.

Vaughan said he's received plenty of coyote calls.

“They’re literally all over town,” he said.