(NECN: Alysha Palumbo, Nahant, Mass.) - Pet owners are on alert after an increase in attacks on family pets by coyotes.
Pet owners Paul and Elaine Caira are keeping a close eye on their dog Bonita and cat Inky outside their Nahant, Massachusetts home.
The couple recently had to bury their beloved 12-year-old cat Dusty after she was apparently attacked and killed by a pack of coyotes and found by workers on the golf course behind their home.
"They said yeah we saw a piece here and a piece there, a grey cat... sure enough it was the cat and it was totally mangled."
The Cairas were confident these animals were actually coming on to property, so they wanted proof of that. They actually got one of these sportsmen's cameras. It has a motion sensor and it takes a photo whenever it senses motion. You won't believe what they caught with this camera Saturday night.
"We were stunned that the animals that are coming in the yard are as big as what they are."
"These animals were only approximately 60 feet from our kitchen door and that's what's scary."
Nahant Police Chief Robert Dwyer says coyote complaints have increased over the past six months.
He says pet owners need to keep their pets inside or on a leash, and they need to make sure their yard stays free of trash or pet food.
Local
Chief Robert Dwyer, Nahant Police Department:
"Because it'll attract the animal and it'll give them a food source, so it will come to your property, continue to come to your property until you shut down the source."
But Tom O'Shea with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife says coyotes can't be hunted in Nahant and they can only be trapped by professionals.
They're actually considered a valuable natural resource in the state.
Tom O'Shea, Asst. Dir. Wildlife - MA div. Of Fisheries & Wildlife:
"Most coyotes are going to be out at night, not bothering anybody, they're looking for food, they're opportunistic so, there's no need to worry about them in terms of people."
But that's little consolation to the Cairas.
"Here you have wild animals coming in and doing away with your domestic animals, pets, but you can't do anything about it."
For more information visit The Official Website of the Department of Fish and Game
