Milton animal control officer response to concerns about coyote at Cunningham Park

This past weekend, a Milton Neighbors Facebook group member complained about a coyote that she saw at Cunningham Park in Milton. The member has since removed her post, but Animal Control Officer Nancy Bersani was kind enough to address and advise members of the group, with respect to the concerns.

Her response is below:

“I hope I can address at least most of your concerns regarding the coyote.

I have been following and monitoring the coyote for over a month now. This coyote for some reason does like to sleep during the day in the marsh at Cunningham Park. I am here 2 to 3 times a day to check and make sure that there are no issues.

My best guess , and yes I have taken several courses on coyotes and their behavior and have dealt with them for many years, is that this is an older coyote that was pushed out of the woods by younger coyotes. The reason I don’t believe it is ill is because it’s body and behavior has not changed or deteriorated in the month that I have been watching it.

I have been here today off and on and I’m here now as there was a track meet where the participants route took them around the marsh area. I had already spoken with the coach last week and the meet has now ended. The report from the participants, parents, and coaches is that the coyote caused no issue at all. They even brought signs to alert the spectators that the coyote was in the marsh.

The only time this coyote will get up and run is if someone chases it or someone allows their dog off leash to run towards it. Unfortunately, this has happened several times and I was told that it happened twice this afternoon as well.

Coaches had to speak to several people not involved in the event that were walking towards the coyote in the marsh or had dogs that were running towards it. This is absolutely unacceptable behavior and I have also had reports of someone feeding this coyote. That is illegal and will be prosecuted if it can be proven.

Normally my advice to everyone is that every single time they see a coyote they yell and wave their arms and it should and will move on. The reason I am not harassing this coyote is that when I do, it chooses to run up towards the playground and sports areas.

The area the coyote stays in is wet, muddy, and marshy so it is not a place where people should be walking and dogs are not allowed off leash unless they are at the far back of the park. Dogs are not allowed even on leash near the playground area or the sports fields. If people followed these rules, there would be no encounters with this coyote.

I have spoken with the division of fisheries and wildlife and their wildlife biologist who oversees furbearing species.

The state law is that I cannot trap a coyote or a fox and the only time I can intervene is if I can go right up to the animal and catch it with a pole or my hands.

At this point this coyote gets up and runs when I get within 20 feet of it. The other choice is to have it shot. I do not want to have an animal shot that is not causing trouble. I also do not want to have guns being fired in the middle of a park. Cunningham Park put up the small signs on the bridge and today the awesome members of the Milton Academy track team made their own signs and placed them all around the marsh.

I have posted about this coyote on the Milton Animal Shelter Facebook page and I also have taken numerous calls daily about it. I would appreciate it if everyone could share this information and if they have any further questions reach out to me at 617-698-0455.”

Contributed by Milton Animal Control Officer Nancy Bersani