PHOENIX — Coyotes are enjoying the good life in Phoenix's fashionable Biltmore area.
They're feasting on plenty of quail and jack rabbits, and they have lakes nearby, wildlife officials say.
They've even taken a liking to pets. Recently, coyotes have attacked and seriously wounded pet dogs and cats in the area.
Veterinarians say coyotes are out gathering food for their pups and themselves, and pets make an easy target.
Fearing for their pets' safety, Biltmore residents have sent a letter to Arizona Game and Fish asking that it get involved.
But if they're looking for a quick solution from the state, it won't be happening.
The solution, wildlife experts say, will have to come from the residents themselves because the coyotes appear quite comfortable.
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"Coyotes are the ultimate opportunists," said Darren Julian, urban-wildlife specialist with Game and Fish. "They are probably the most adaptable animals in North America."
Biltmore residents have noticed that the coyotes, which used to run away from human contact, no longer feel the need to run.
The only way to solve the coyote problem is education. Residents need to make sure they keep close watch on their small pets. They need to limit the coyotes' food sources by making sure garbage stays in cans, Julian said. Also, pets should be fed indoors.
But perhaps the most important thing is that humans need to forget their manners when it comes to coyotes.
"Don't allow these animals to become comfortable in the human arena," Julian said. "Be rude to them. Yell. Throw rocks. ... They won't like it."
