The bizarre behavior of a marauding quartet of coyotes has prompted a rural Douglas-area resident to put out a warning to her neighbors, and a call for hunters or trappers to come deal with the bothersome beasts.
Marly Borup told Cowboy State Daily said she was first warned about the coyotes roughly a week ago by her husband.
He called and told her to “watch the cats,” because while driving, he had seen four coyotes chasing a cat, and they were completely “undaunted” by his vehicle or the presence a human in a yard nearby.
‘In Broad Daylight’
A few days ago, Borup had her own unnerving encounter. As she was driving home, she spotted two of the coyotes trying to corner and kill a young deer. So she pulled over, got out of her car and tried frightening the coyotes away.
Not only were they not intimidated by her, they and two of their coyote buddies went after her, she said.
“Neither of the two visually apparent coyotes minded me one bit and continued to give chase to the young deer, which I spooked to the fence opening,” Borup said. “As the deer crossed the road, 35 yards north of my parked car, the coyotes then diverted their attention toward me, so I rushed back to my car.”
Then Borup spotted two more coyotes “doubling back” toward her from the other side of the road.
“What caused my concern and need to alarm is that these four had all intention to either bully me or choose to give chase and pursue me instead of the now-fleeing deer,” Borup said.
The coyotes, which she described a juveniles that looked “thin and mangy,” got to within about 15 yards of her “in broad daylight” while seemingly unafraid.
Nothing Against Coyotes In General
Borup said that for several days in a row, she and one of her neighbors had daily sightings of the coyotes as they’ve driven to and from town along Esterbrook Road to Rockhurst Estates.
She posted a warning on social media “for anyone who lives around Bedtick Bridge area on Esterbrook Road” to “keep your heads up and keep your little critters safe!”
Some dogs and cats have been reported killed in the area, likely by the coyotes, she said.
Borup stressed that she has nothing against coyotes in general, but the behavior of the four rogue juveniles is just too much.
“To be clear, we are all used to the beautiful wildlife in our area, including coyotes,” she said. “It was the alarming behavior that prompted the Facebook notice.”
A young coyote is seen hot on the trail of a deer with fawns in these recent trail camera photos from northeast Wyoming. Coyotes seem especially numerous this year, and pack of four has been stalking a rural neighborhood near Douglas. (Courtesy Owen Miller) 
A young coyote is hot on the trail of a deer with fawns in these recent trail camera photos from northeast Wyoming. Coyotes seem especially numerous this year, and pack of four has been stalking a rural neighborhood near Douglas. (Courtesy Owen Miller)
A Call To Hunters, Trappers
She also posted a call for help from predator hunters and trappers. So far, she’s had serious inquiries from five hunters and two trappers.
Since much of the ground the coyotes are stalking is private property, Borup said she wants to make sure everything is cleared by property owners before she passes “exact details” on to hunters or trappers as to where they might find the coyotes.
She added that she’s leaning toward one particular trapper who says he might be able to catch the coyotes alive and relocate them.
Meanwhile, the coyotes continue to run roughshod, she said.
On Thursday night, she could hear them “howling and yipping” just across the road from the residential development where she lives.
So she’s worried about small children, pets and backyard chickens in the neighborhood.
“I do firmly believe that the pack has no problem attacking in daylight,” she said.
Seems Like A Bumper Year For Coyotes
Outdoorsman and northeast Wyoming resident Owen Miller said he wasn’t surprised to hear about the coyote ruckus around Douglas.
The coyotes seem particularly thick this year in his corner of the state too. Even the young ones seem to be out for whatever they can drag down and devour.
“There’s a lot of (coyote) pups showing up on my trail cameras, and I know they’ll take down fawns,” he said.
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
