Bethlehem May Have Bats, But the Township Has Coyotes .. and Pit Bulls

Bethlehem Township resident Don Wright is worried about the increasing number of coyotes he is seeing in his neighborhood. He's also concerned about an increasing number of pit bulls. "There are a lot of small pets," he told Commissioners at their April 6 meeting. "Also small children."

"I'd be more worried about the pit bulls," remarked Michael Hudak, stating that they are more predatory than coyotes.

Manager Melissa Shafer stated that the Township web page has several tips on dealing with coyotes.

-Firmly secure your garbage so that a coyote would not be able to gain access and eat from garbage bins.
-Only feed your pets inside and never leave or store pet food outdoors.
-If you know of any rodent problem on your property, have the issue managed quickly, as rodents are a prime food source for coyotes.
-Do not leave any smaller dogs, cats or other pets outside unsupervised, especially between dusk and dawn.
-If you have a fence or gate to your back yard, make sure it is secured.
-Keep your grass well maintained and all shrubs, trees and bushes trimmed, doing so will remove shelter for coyotes.
-Remove any structures, equipment, piles, etc. that could provide shelter to coyotes.