Hingham residents are on high alert after multiple encounters with coyotes have been reported in the Massachusetts town.Residents told NewsCenter 5 that a coyote was seen following and later chasing a fifth-grader who was walking her dog before school Tuesday morning.”The coyote went after her,” said Alison Fabella.Chris Tomecek said his home security camera captured the coyote running toward the girl down Flintlock Circle. He then ran outside to scare off the coyote, yelling, “Get out of here!””It started to pick up speed,” Tomecek said.”We saw a friend just sprinting down the street with her dog and we’re like: ‘What’s happening?'” said Jake LeBretton. “Then there’s a giant coyote just sprinting after her and she’s just screaming. She was just so scared.”The girl and her dog were not hurt during the encounter, but it happened just a week after Fabella had a close call of her own with a coyote.”It turned and it began to pursue myself, as well as my dog,” Fabella said.Animal Control officers responded during both incidents, urging neighbors to take precautions. But because the coyotes do not appear to be sick and have not attacked a person, the officers said options are limited.”I’m not going to let our kids out unsupervised any longer,” said Matt LeBretton. “We kiss our kids goodbye in the morning. We send them to school. We don’t think they might be food for coyotes.”Hingham Animal Control said neighbors could hire a licensed professional to trap the coyotes, but noted that might be difficult in a suburban neighborhood.Recent coyote attacks in Mass.
Hingham residents are on high alert after multiple encounters with coyotes have been reported in the Massachusetts town.
Residents told NewsCenter 5 that a coyote was seen following and later chasing a fifth-grader who was walking her dog before school Tuesday morning.
“The coyote went after her,” said Alison Fabella.
Chris Tomecek said his home security camera captured the coyote running toward the girl down Flintlock Circle. He then ran outside to scare off the coyote, yelling, “Get out of here!”
“It started to pick up speed,” Tomecek said.
“We saw a friend just sprinting down the street with her dog and we’re like: ‘What’s happening?'” said Jake LeBretton. “Then there’s a giant coyote just sprinting after her and she’s just screaming. She was just so scared.”
The girl and her dog were not hurt during the encounter, but it happened just a week after Fabella had a close call of her own with a coyote.
“It turned and it began to pursue myself, as well as my dog,” Fabella said.
Animal Control officers responded during both incidents, urging neighbors to take precautions. But because the coyotes do not appear to be sick and have not attacked a person, the officers said options are limited.
“I’m not going to let our kids out unsupervised any longer,” said Matt LeBretton. “We kiss our kids goodbye in the morning. We send them to school. We don’t think they might be food for coyotes.”
Hingham Animal Control said neighbors could hire a licensed professional to trap the coyotes, but noted that might be difficult in a suburban neighborhood.
