BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Neighbors in one Bloomfield Township community captured a photo of a coyote lounging in a backyard and are putting out the alert for small pet owners.
Seeing the animal isn't surprising. Coyotes have been spotted all over Oakland County, including neighboring Troy.
Elizabeth Stieg was driving home one night and one crossed her path.
"It was actually about this time of night and we were coming home and as I was turning the corner the headlights shined right on the coyote and then he was gone," she said.
Stieg immediately alerted her homeowner's association; her worry was small pets. It's a valid concern. Coyotes are opportunistic feeders. A single coyote isn't likely to attempt to go after anything greater than 25 pounds. A pack of coyotes will and have taken down large deer.
They tend to shy away from humans.
Stieg believes the one captured on film is just one that's living in the area.
The best advice is not to leave smaller animals outside unattended. As Stieg notes, neighbors have lost pets in the past to hungry coyotes.