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Residents of the University neighborhood in Syracuse are concerned about coyotes loose in the city. An Eastern coyote strikes a watchful, alert pose in a forest in Poolville, near Hamilton. It was one of five running together in a pack that day. - Photo by Robert F. Cook

(Post-Standard file photo)

Syracuse - Members of two city of Syracuse Neighborhood Watch Programs are concerned about reports of coyotes in the highly populated city/Syracuse University area.

Bob Gardino, who lives on Scott Avenue sent out the following email recently to the Scott Avenue and Sherman Park Neighborhood Watch programs.

"A neighbor near our Scott Avenue blocks has spotted a coyote in our area. Two eviscerated fawns have also been found. Awareness of this possible threat should lead to careful watch over small pets and children," he wrote. "If you have any information to relay, please do call 911 and relay same information to me so I can disseminate to our immediate neighbors."

The coyote's menu ranges from rabbits, rats and other rodents to insects, reptiles and deer, as well as small dogs and cats.

Sarah Parsons, who is coordinator of the Sherman Park Neighborhood Watch Program, is worried, although she hadn't personally seen a coyote yet.

"I think the city of Syracuse should take action ASAP, before there are too many (coyotes)," she said. "When they penetrate cities, it is never good. It's never good to be co-habitating with coyotes."

Parsons said she's lived in the Sherman Park area since 1990. She said the area's deer population has gone "way up" in the past five years. She said she has neighbors who are constantly putting out scraps "because they think the deer need to be fed.

"It's crazy. Now the deer in the area are really bad ... and now there's coyotes on top of that," she said.

It is a ticket-able offense to feed wild deer, according to the DEC.

The excessive numbers of white-tail deer population in the eastern half of Syracuse and the greater Syracuse University area has been an issue in recent years. A joint city/county task was formed last year to address the issue. The panel has had several meetings, but there have been no recommendations yet on what action to take.

A recent SUNY ESF study of white-tailed deer in the area indicated on the average about 20 per square mile. However, that's an average and some areas in the zone have way more deer than others. Some areas only have a few, while others have as many as 50 per square mile, the study found.

The appearance of coyotes, which are highly adaptable animals and in fact have found ways to survive in many suburban and urban settings across the county, should not be a surprise to city of Syracuse residents, said Steve Joule, chief wildlife biologist for the DEC's Region 7.

"Their populations are also expanding, just like the deer population," said Brian Underwood, a research wildlife biologist with U.S. Geological Survey whose office is on the SUNY ESF campus.

"The fact of the matter is they're predators and they prey on deer fawns. Where one goes. The other is soon to follow," he said.

As for the fear factor, Underwood, said incidents of coyotes turning on people are "extremely rare."

"Once you open the door and they see you more often than not they're gone," he said. "People shouldn't be concerned about coyotes grabbing your 4 or 5 year old."

Underwood stressed using common sense.

"If you know there's coyotes in an area, keep our children and pets (particularly small dogs and pets) under supervision at all times," he said. "If you come across one that seems to show no fear or acting strangely, don't approach it. That's the time you might want to think about calling 911. The chances are that animal is mostly likely sick (with something like rabies.)"

PHOTOGRAPH A COYOTE

Have you seen a coyote within the city of Syracuse? We'd like to see a picture. Send your photos to dfigura@syracuse.com.