A fellow Turfway Park neighbor emailed the HOA Board of Directors and reported that they may have seen a coyote in the neighborhood. This seems to be an increasing problem in Greenwood and surrounding areas.

The Greenwood Police Department has set up an information section of their website at www.greenwood.in.gov/police  where you can find more information regarding this issue, such as a map where coyotes have been spotted and how to report a sighting. The City of Greenwood also complied a Coyote Warning poster. This document will be saved on the website for future reference under the Documents section.

Please contact the Greenwood Police Department if you see any coyotes in the neighborhood or around Greenwood. If you see one in Turfway Park, please also email the HOA Board of Directors at TurkwayParkHOA@yahoo.com or use the contact form on the website. Thank you in advance for your help!

The following information is from the City of Greenwood’s website regarding coyotes:

Food

Coyotes are opportunistic foragers that will consume anything of nutritional value. Coyotes primarily feed on small mammals, even in urban environments, but they will not turn down an easy meal, nor will they pass up a free meal of artificial food sources. They will scavenge exposed garbage or other refuse, and may even kill and consume house cats and small dogs.

Prevention and Control

• Feed pets indoors whenever possible; pick up leftovers if feeding outdoors and store pet and livestock feed where it’s inaccessible to wildlife
• Eliminate water bowls and other artificial water sources (if possible).
• Position bird feeders in a location that is less likely to attract small animals or bring the feeders in at night (to keep coyotes from feeding on the bird food or the other animals).
• Do not discard edible garbage where coyotes can get to it. Secure garbage containers
• Trim and clean shrubbery near ground level to reduce hiding cover for coyotes or their prey
• Do not allow pets to run free and provide secure nighttime housing for them
• If you start seeing coyotes around your home, discourage them by shouting, making loud noises or throwing rocks but NEVER corner a coyote – always give the coyote a free escape route.

Landowners, or a person with written permission from a landowner, may take coyotes year-round on private property by snaring or trapping without a permit from the DNR. A landowner does not need a permit to take coyotes on his/her property by one of these methods, but a hunting or trapping license is required to hunt or trap coyotes on land other than your own.