I received this message via email from a resident who has asked me to post it on this site.

''I live in the Big Bear Farms and my backyard is next to the Giant Eagle strip mall's backyard.

I spotted a coyote in my backyard last night around 8:00pm. My little dog was in backyard at that time, then I heard some voice downstairs. When I looked down from my second floor deck, a coyote was looking up at me. I called my dog back home immediately, then my husband and I grabbed some tools to chase the animal but found it was already gone. Actually, my husband saw something similar about one month ago, but it was so dark that he wasn't really sure what animal was that. However, it was really clear for me last night because it was just under my deck and it's only around 8:00pm so it's not dark at all. I searched on-line and have made sure the coyote images on line are the same as the animal I saw.

Please warn our neighbors in the community about the coyote immediately since I don't want any kids and pets get hurt.''

If you would like to contact this resident directly for more information, I can give you her name and number.

Thanks,
Lesli

Coyotes

Having already been through all of this with the City of Powell and City Council meeting, coyotes will not harm children and they are more afraid of you then you are of them. This was their habitat until we overtook it and chose to build our houses. Keep all food/trash inside until trash day. Don't feed them. If you see them near your property, throw a rock at them and they will leave. They are not aggressive. They normally prey on small rabbits, squirrels, chipmonks etc. If you have very small pets, don't leave them unattended at night. Your children are safe.

Coyote is a fox

I have seen this ''coyote'' on Waynebrown, Big Bear Ave, and Mead Dr. It came through our backyard a few weeks ago about this same time while we were out on the patio. Considering we are overpopulated with rabbits, I was quite happy to see it hunting the entire neighborhood.
It is a young fox. It does not have a bushy tail yet. It has black paws and legs and black markings on its face. Ohio Wildlife was out once and determined it to be a fox, probably displaced from the construction of Powell road near the zoo. I have only seen it alone on 3 occasions. Coyotes prefer to roam in packs of 2 or more. If it is a coyote, it is solitary.

The previous post was correct in saying it will not harm children. We have a smaller dog. When I put him out at night, I turn on the outside lights and make my presence known just in case.

Please don't try to harm it, it is only doing what instinctly comes natural. Chances are the young coyote/fox will move on to a more secluded area. Until then, relax and enjoy mother nature at work!

Fox

It is a fox. It has walked in front of our house several times. I thought it was kind of neat.

I really doubt it will hurt anything. Leave it alone. Why throw things at it?