Some Owasso Residents Worried About Pets As Coyote Sightings Increase

People in Owasso say they've seen an increase of coyotes roaming around neighborhoods in the past several weeks. Of course, the coyotes have always been there. With the city growing so much growth, there are more encounters with them and people are worried about their pets.

Wildlife experts said coyotes are adaptable and live in a lot of urban places all over Tulsa county. They're usually scared of humans but will get hungry enough to eat a dog or cat every once in a while.

Jay Hastings woke up to surveillance video one morning a few weeks ago. It was a snowy morning and two coyotes were on the prowl.

"I noticed the coyotes walking around the neighborhood," said Hastings. "There were two of them it was quite interesting to see them."

Hastings has lived in a neighborhood in north Owasso for many years. He said he often hears coyotes howling and they've always been around, but with so many neighborhoods popping up, more people are seeing them.

"We're more of a threat to them then they are to us," he said. "They were here before we were."

Owasso police said their night shift officers have spotted coyotes all over the Country Estates and German Corner neighborhoods.

"As people move out to the suburbs, they may be surprised, but they've been there all along," said Micah Holmes.

Holmes with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation said coyotes are opportunistic and eat what they can find. Mostly that consists of rabbits and rodents.

"Coyotes are predators," he said. "From time to time they will take a small dog or cat."

He said it's best to keep small pets indoors.

Hastings said he's never seen the coyotes get aggressive.

"They're probably looking for dog food or cat food," said Hastings.

He hopes to continue enjoying the wildlife from his front yard.

Holmes said if people ever have a big problem with the animals, to call the wildlife department.