Coyote kills Chihuahua in St. Louis Park - New York News | NYC Breaking News

St. Louis Park has now seen its third dog killed by coyotes in the past 14 months. Yet though the city says they don't believe there are more coyotes in the area, they are definitely hearing a lot more concern.

On Wednesday, a Chihuahua was killed. Residents say the coyotes are becoming more visible and are often getting too close for comfort.

Coyotes can be found in every metro city, and there are hundreds in area woods. Though many go unseen, there is one that Mary Bahneman sees often because it's set up its den in a nearby culvert.

"Many days, she is sleeping right here in front of where I park in the morning," Bahneman said. "If we go out at lunch, she is sunning over on the rocks."

Bahneman works at a law firm where there have been dozens of coyote sightings in the open, and they soon find that other wild animals are being seen less and less.

"Last week, there was a whole group of ducklings," she recalled. "We said, 'We'll never see the mother duck again' -- and we haven't, or her babies."

Each year, various suburbs see problems with coyotes -- and dogs and cats get killed. A year ago, residents in Edina begged their city leaders to do something about the dog attacks -- but the decisions seem to always be to just let them be.

The reaction in St. Louis Park is no different because officials say setting traps creates a danger for children. Instead, they urge residents to watch their pets and work on scaring the coyotes away.

The Department of Natural Resource can't track populations, but they do believe that the population may be increasing. Pups are commonly born in April, and the pressure is on for the mothers to find food for her young.