Police: Coyote On The Loose In Richfield
RICHFIELD, Minn. (WCCO) -- Authorities in Richfield are telling citizens to be on alert as a coyote is loose in the city.
The Richfield Police Department says the city has received several calls within the last week about a coyote sighting. The animal has been seen in several areas on the west side of Richfield, including the grounds of the Best Buy campus headquarters.
Authorities say most recently, the coyote was spotted settling into the cemetery along Penn Avenue. It's a place of serenity, of quiet, aside from the occasional buzz of an occasional mower, until now.
Amongst those at rest, a coyote lives.
"It's been different than usual, that's for sure. It's been cool to take pictures and kind of spice up the job a little bit," Jamie Bergeson Newman said.
Newman has been able to get a few pictures of the coyote. Other neighbors have seen him too. There is even a Facebook group with photos. Rissa Pahl is in it.
"They've named him Cody, unofficially," Pahl said.
With all the reported spottings, we came out to look for ourselves - and yes we found him.
He is distinguishable because of his signature limp.
"He more than likely got hit by a car and he's stuck in the cemetery so we'd like to help him," Pahl said.
DNR officers tried over and over to capture him Tuesday. They say he will likely be put down because of his leg.
WCCO spoke with Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. They say they would welcome the wounded animal, but they need someone to catch the animal first. Which is tricky.
"So we thought we could kind of use snow shovels and scoop him into a kennel," Pahl said. "We tried but he took off running."
It's almost as if he finds peace at the cemetery.
"I don't know, he's kind of our buddy now. I hope somebody gets him and can fix that back leg for him," Newman said.
In the meantime, city officials are urging the public to stay away from the coyote. They also say people should refrain from trying to feed the coyote or care for it.
