Patch Reader Captures Coyote Photos near 11 Mile and Orchard Lake in Farmington Hills
The city's parks supervisor says coyote sightings have increased over the past decade.
If you're seeing coyotes in and around Farmington Hills, you're not alone.
Patch reader Ed Flaherty sent in several photos of a coyote that has been traveling near his home in the 11 Mile and Orchard Lake area. Flaherty said he has seen the animal during the daylight hours, and a motion-activated camera he received as a Christmas gift caught a photo on New Year's Eve.
City of Farmington Hills Parks Supervisor Randy Lovett says he has seen coyotes in Flaherty's part of town many times over the last decade, and sightings have increased all around the city every year.
"The frequency of incoming reports from concerned citizens about coyote sightings in neighborhoods is definitely on the rise as well," he wrote in an email. "These dogs do not seem to pose an immediate threat to anyone providing people do not confront them and never attempt to feed them, which may encourage repeat visits to the house for another hand out."
Lovett says he enjoys seeing them and has had the opportunity to watch them hunt in pairs in the Heritage and Woodland Hills parks
"They are really neat to observe," he said.
If you have questions about coyotes, call Lovett at 248 473-1884.
Have you captured a photo of a coyote in Farmington or Farmington Hills? Share it by clicking on the "Upload Photos and Videos" button.
Suzanne Zimmerly
1:07 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
I'm glad to see they are still around, we've seen one frequently going through our yard but hadn't seem it recently. They have a place. Just be a good pet owner and keep your cats inside and never let any dog outside unattended and all wil be fine!
Faith Brower
3:15 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
Very cool. Wish I had had those experiences! Do not feed them and do not frighten them and all will be well! Thanks for these great pictures! :)
Sarah S.
3:26 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
The one I saw Thursday looked very healthy and larger than I expected.
Michael Ritenour
12:53 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2013
I like wildlife as much as the next guy and the coyotes are interesting, but they do not belong in heavily populated areas like Farmington any more than deer belong here. One came up near our house a couple weeks ago and I chased it off, but it returned an hour later and clearly is unafraid of humans. As a consequence, I can no longer let our little dog run around our yard off the leash even if I'm present. My father lives in West Bloomfield near the border with Farmington Hills, and this past week saw two coyotes take down and rip apart a small deer on his property. It won't be long until there's a real pet or human tragedy. While I don't advocate hunting or trapping them, the relaxed attitude toward them is not good policy, and I believe they should be caught and relocated.
Ed
10:57 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013
I think they are actually a good thing, the deer population is getting out of control in the 11 Mile/Orchard Lake area anyhow. You just need to be careful and use common sense.
steve stella
9:50 am on Thursday, January 31, 2013
I agree awith Michael 100%. They have no place in Farmington Hills. Wait until a kid gets taken from a backyard.