Can neighbors co-exist with coyotes in Brookline? One group of residents doesn't believe so.

Former schoolteacher Anne Tolkoff, representing an unofficial coalition of Corey Hill residents, brought their concerns about the coyotes to the Selectmen at last night's meeting. She said the group had recently met at her house, with over 30 neighbors in attendance, venting their worries about the fur-bearing canines.

"I never thought I’d come before the board to ask for protection for my children and grandchildren," Tolkoff began. She brought a cane and a party noisemaker to demonstrate how she feels she must walk her dog with coyotes nearby. 

She noted that the town's animal control officer commented to her that the coyotes were "here first." She responded that she had lived in town for 40 years, and felt she was there first, especially as the coyote sightings in her area had only picked up in the last 18 months or so.

"Unless a coyote is aggressive to a human, we cannot step in and put the coyote down. There is laws that prevent that, is laws that prevent relocation. Those laws will have to be changed if we want to do something," explained Police Chief Daniel O'Leary. "Just being around not a 'destroyable' offense."

The Selectmen reiterated that, saying that the hands of police are tied because of the coyotes' protected status as a fur-bearing animal. Police are legally prevented from action, on penalty of a fine.

"I will say that we really can’t go against the law," O'Leary concluded.

O'Leary also added that police are tracking coyote sighting calls, and are seeing a shift in reports from the south part of Brookline toward the central and north part of town. 

Chief of environmental health at the health department, Pat Maloney, commented "We have been working with police department. We meet monthly as part of animal control agenda, and [coyote control has] been a very frustrating issue to deal with."

He noted that he and Public Health Director Dr. Alan Balsam feel the law should be changed, but that they are "stymied as to what to do" until that happens. The department has "stepped up" enforcement of code violations in neighborhoods with coyote sightings, hoping to remove some food sources. 

Statistically, coyote attacks are very rare. Since first being confirmed in Massachusetts in 1950, the Mass Audubon Society reports four attacks on people. The site goes on to note,

Dogs, on the other hand, have attacked and killed 43 humans in the United States between January, 2010 and September, 2011. Coyotes have a healthy fear of humans and just want to be left alone.

Tolkoff called on the Selectmen to develop some sort of action plan, saying "we really need some help here."

Suggestions for solutions included neighborhood information, proper lighting and contraceptives for the coyotes. She noted that Larz Anderson Park employs decoy coyotes. 

Selectmen Chair Betsy DeWitt noted that it would require action at a state level. Newton has had problems in the past, she noted adding, " It will take a coalition greater than one municipality.”

Selectwoman Nancy Daly noted that she had been speaking to legislators for a while about the issue. Her sources explain that the coyotes are following wild turkeys' progress through town. 

When Patch spoke with State Representative Frank Smizik in May about coyotes, he commented, "What can I do? I can write a law, [but] it would have to get passed. It doesn't solve the problem in the short-term."

"the problem with relocation is that we put it in someone else’s back yard." Selectman Ken Goldstein commented, "The important points we heard about from you today are about public awareness. I think that’s something this board can take point on."

For more information about living with coyotes in the neighborhood, see the guide on "Co-Existing with Coyotes," the MassWildlife information page on coyotes or the guide released by Brookline police earlier in the year.