The Town of Middletown is partnering with the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to manage its coyote population, and the collaboration is already showing positive results, according to Town Administrator Shawn J. Brown and Deputy Police Chief Jason Ryan.
The partnership, formalized in late October, focuses on providing education about limiting easy food sources for coyotes and identifying problem coyotes for trapping and relocation. Animal Control Officer Olivia Garcia has been instrumental in the effort, posting lawn signs in areas frequented by coyotes and actively working with residents to address concerns.
“The (Police Department) really (has) done a stellar job in coordinating with the USDA as well as the neighborhoods and coming up with a respectful program and a professional program,” Brown said, acknowledging Garcia’s role in building relationships with concerned residents.
The initiative was prompted by concerns from residents over the summer about coyotes infringing on their quality of life. The Town Council, led by President Paul M. Rodrigues, agreed that a more active approach to managing the coyote population was needed.
After exploring options, the town decided to contract with the USDA, citing their expertise in the field. Since the partnership began, two traps have been baited in high traffic areas to gather information about the local population. Garcia has also been working with the town’s Building Department to eliminate potential food sources for coyotes.
The Police Department is scheduling a coyote forum with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management next month to provide more details. Both Rodrigues and Ryan emphasized the importance of ongoing management to effectively address the issue.
“This is something that has to be ongoing,” Rodrigues said. “It’s not going to go away unless we stay on top of it and manage it properly.”
Ryan echoed this sentiment, stating, “The management of (coyotes) is going to be essential going forward. Coyotes are here and I don’t think they’re going anywhere.”
Middletown’s partnership with the USDA has garnered attention from neighboring communities, with Newport and Portsmouth officials inquiring about the program’s potential applicability in their own towns.
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
