CORRALES, N.M. (KRQE) – A growing number of coyote attacks has Corrales city leaders warning neighbors. Additionally, some think the village needs to bolster its efforts in addressing the problem.
It is another warning about coyotes in Corrales: this time comes weeks after Mayor James Fahey put out a bulletin about the growing number of attacks reported in the village through October.
"I know some of the people who have talked, have complained, have lived here for quite a while, so they're accustomed to the coyotes, but they're - they're just kind [of] becoming very urbanized," said Mayor James Fahey.
In years past, similar problems sparked the village to create a Coyote Management Plan, which, in part, asks people to report sightings to animal control. However, some neighbors said this year, the problem is different, and the wild animals are showing less fear.
"I have noticed that this is just getting increasingly more severe that a coyote would come into our yard in the daylight, and it was not like it was nighttime and almost killed our pet," said Renee Delgado-Riley.
Renee Delgado-Riley said her Jack-Russell Terrier was attacked by a coyote last month when the dog was just 20 feet away from them. The attack left the dog with puncture wounds all over its body. Delgado-Riley created a petition for residents to sign urging the Village Administration to revamp the plan.
"It's really frustrating that the village just says, 'Well, we can't get rid of them.' That's not what I'm advocating for, and I don't think that's what our community is advocating for. We just want safety to be a priority, "said Renee Delgado-Riley.
While her pet survived, Delgado-Riley wants to see the village change its plan to be more proactive, including increasing coyote hazing and ways to report sightings more efficiently.
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"I believe that the more information we can collect to show the problem, then perhaps we can get more help in dealing with the problem," said Mayor Fahey.
The mayor also is suggesting that neighbors keep their pets on leash and not leave food outside. The village said it's continuing to monitor the coyote population through resident reports.