money Black ‘coyotes’ roaming town were actually someone’s lost dogs, Rhode Island mayor says
UPDATE: The mayor of Warwick, Frank Picozzi, announced in a Facebook post on April 20 that the coyotes had been misidentified, and were actually “wolf hybrid” dogs.
Picozzi said their owner had been located and the dogs would be getting tested for their genetics. It is illegal to own a wolf-dog hybrid in the state of Rhode Island, McClatchy News previously reported.
“The police are investigating the entire matter and much more information will be released later today,” Picozzi said.
The original story continues below.
Local authorities are issuing a warning after two rare animals were spotted in a Rhode Island town.
A pair of black coyotes have made Warwick, Rhode Island, home. The animals have a rare color pattern, and some residents may want to catch a glimpse of them.
That’s not a good idea, police said.
“We have spoken to (the Department of Environmental Management) and none of the behavior described is normal,” Warwick police said in an April 18 Facebook post. “Please remember these are wild animals and it is not uncommon to see them during the day due to the fact they are not strictly nocturnal.”
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management biologist Morgan Lucot told WJAR that a coyote’s coloring is determined by genetics, so even though the black coloring is rare, the coyotes are the same as any others.
“Keeping coyotes wild is the key to coexistence. Their life and your safety depend upon coyotes remaining naturally wary of people,” Warwick police said.
One resident told WJAR that he sees the pair along the water when he passes in the morning, and the coyotes are using it as a highway through the community.
“The first time I saw him, I went ‘kiss, kiss, kiss,’ and then I’m thinking what if he comes over? I’m the coyote whisperer,” the resident told WJAR. “I jetted, but there’s a lot of them around here. I think people feed them to be honest.”
The Warwick Animal Shelter shared tips on how to prevent attracting the coyotes in an April 18 Facebook post.
“PLEASE PLEASE stay away from these coyotes and DO NOT LEAVE FOOD (which is illegal) because if they get too comfortable around people it will be a problem and dangerous for them,” the post said.
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