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MALDEN, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — With a sharp spike of coyote sightings throughout Massachusetts, and the peak of mating season not far off on the horizon, Malden city officials are holding a special presentation to discuss typical coyote behaviors Thursday night.
The "Living with Coyotes" public safety seminar is scheduled to be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Forestdale School auditorium on Sylvan Street to answer some of the community's concerns over the predators. This comes ahead of peak coyote mating season, which typically begins in mid-February, and pups are born between the months of April and May.
Massachusetts Wildlife Biologist Chalis Bird is set to be at the presentation to share ways residents can avoid any "intrusive interaction" with the wild animals.
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WBZ's James Rojas was at the Forestdale Graveyard, a hotspot for coyote sightings, to speak with Malden Animal Control Officer Kevin Alkins on the matter.
"We have several spots on the upper west side and in the middle of the Forestdale section, where the forum is being held. They been here for quite some time, long before I started this job and I've been working here 24 years. They'll be here long after I'm gone. I get people love animals, but you need to respect them and be educated on them and their behavior to coexist, and that's what we're going to try and do," Alkins said.
Alkins says the seminar comes as a response to the daily calls the Malden Police Department gets concerning coyotes, most of which are out of curiosity. Officials say there are certain residents should refrain from doing when it comes to the wild animals.
"We are having a people problem feeding these animals, which really you shouldn't do," Alkins said.
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The coyote surge exists elsewhere in the Commonwealth like in Nahant, where officials resolved to hire sharpshooters to reduce the coyote population.
WBZ's James Rojas (@JamesRojasNews) reports.
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