Coyotes are on the prowl in Troy

Ann Kellogg has lost five of her beautiful free range chickens in recent weeks.

Just last week, a pair two coyotes cornered her full-size hound against the house.

"Her tail was backed up against the house with (a coyote) on each side," said Kellogg.

They took down a full-size dog a half-mile away and fed on a deer this past Thursday. There is no telling if they killed the deer or were scavenging, but they have killed them in the past.

"You go out there and you do your best to break eye contact between the coyote and the dog to save your dog. They're not afraid of the dog. I mean that's a hunting dog with strong jaws and they have no fear of her," said Kellogg.

Gerald Hall is worried his smaller dogs will become Coyote candy. He watches them like a hawk. The coyotes have become immune to intimidation.

"I saw it standing there and I was on the lawn mower, thought I'd run him off. He didn't move. I was scared, not him," he said.

Police will refer residents to Animal Control. Animal Control will refer them to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The DNR says you can't trap them, shoot them or do anything unless you're forced to defend yourself or your pet in an attack.

"We were told we have to cohabitate with them," said Kellogg.

DNR officials say you can hire a licensed nuisance control service to trap them, but that's expensive.

"I ain't got $500 to hire a coyote catcher," said Hall.

Hall, Kellogg and other neighbors say if these were wild dogs Animal Control would take care of it. They can't understand why they can't get any help.

Bottom line: They are wild and have a right to their habitat even if it collides with yours. The best you can do is when you go outside be big, loud and scary. But these folks say short of harming them, scary is not longer possible.