UTICA, Mich. – Residents of a Macomb County neighborhood are raising concerns about a coyote that moved into the woods nearby.
The city of Utica is celebrating its 200th birthday with a festival this weekend, but that's not the talk of the town this week. Residents said a coyote is seemingly living in the woods right next to homes, a church and a school.
But officials said there's not much anyone can do about it.
The coyote has been spotted off Utica Road across from St. Lawrence Church, with homes, children and small dogs nearby. Homeowners said they're concerned about what could happen.
"He's come past this middle pole right here, so he's come between there and this pole to my property," Deanna Kilpatrick said.
Kilpatrick has no problems with animals. She said she has three dogs of her own, but she's afraid the dogs or the children in her daycare could be attacked by the coyote.
"We can't go over there," Kilpatrick said. "The kids can't go play in the parking lot, can't take walks (with) our dogs, you know. We can't do anything."
Residents told Local 4 the coyote is out in the open all the time, and sure enough, it was less than an hour before it came out and laid down.
The coyote has become an attraction for people who watch it all day long.
"The lady was calling it over to her van, trying to feed it," neighbor Charlene Mathews said.
When that doesn't work, some people leave food behind for the coyote. That's what has the Utica Police Department frustrated.
Some people drove through the field to get a closer look or even stopped in the middle of Utica Road.
"I saw it three times this morning, about a half hour before you got here," Utica police Officer James Venegoni said. "They would stop right in the middle of the road."
Approaching the coyote is not smart, police said.
"Not a good idea," Venegoni said. "Keep in mind she's a wild animal, and like any wild animal, they're unpredictable."
Since the coyote hasn't hurt anyone or itself, the DNR told Utica police and concerned residents that there's nothing they can do.
"So (I said), 'Basically I have to wait until one of my dogs or one the kids is attacked for you guys to do anything?'" Kilpatrick said. "They basically said, 'Yeah, we can't do anything about it.'"
Utica police has extra patrols in the area to warn residents walking near the coyote. They're hoping the animal will eventually leave for good.