Another coyote reported prowling in Tarentum

Residents of Tarentum's west end don't appear to be rid of their coyote problem just yet.

A West Eighth Avenue resident reported early Monday what appeared to be a second coyote in West Tarentum. Then, around 1 p.m. Monday, another resident reported to police that a coyote was raiding garbage cans near Center Street and West 11th Avenue.

Monday's sightings come two days after a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer killed a coyote in the same neighborhood. Tarentum police responded to Monday afternoon's sighting but did not see the animal.

Dan Puhala, a state wildlife conservation officer, said the coyote on Saturday appeared to be ill, so it was killed and disposed of. Puhala said the game commission was alerted to Saturday's sightings by emergency dispatchers, who received numerous calls from residents.

Saturday's coyote was roaming the streets in broad daylight and witnesses said it appeared to show little fear of humans. Residents reported seeing the coyote in back yards and sitting on porches.

“Coyotes don't just sit there,” Puhala said. “That is way outside of the realm of normal. This one was disoriented and sick.”

Tarentum police Chief Bill Vakulick said there was only one coyote reported in Tarentum over the weekend. No one reported any attacks by that animal.

But Connie Paden of West Eighth Avenue said a coyote first visited her backyard early Saturday around 5 a.m. and tried to snatch her pet Chihuahua, Bella.

Paden said she let Bella out along with her second dog, a pit bull named Molly, early Saturday.

“I heard (Bella) screech and went running to the back door,” Paden said.

That's when she saw a coyote trying to run away — with Bella in its mouth.

Paden said she opened the door, screamed and banged on the door, which she thinks caused the coyote to drop Bella.

Paden was able to get her dog back into the house while the coyote returned and sat on a step in her back yard.

Puncture wounds on the dog's back and leg still were visible Monday. The dog is recovering.

It is unknown if the coyote had rabies because it was not tested since there were no reports, at least initially, of human or domestic animal contact, according to Puhala.

At 4 a.m. Monday, when Paden's dogs wanted to go out, she said she first looked out a window and saw a coyote circling in her backyard.

“We take a baseball bat with us with us now,” she said

Puhala said coyotes are present everywhere in Pennsylvania, even in cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

“They are highly adaptable and resilient,” he said.

If coyotes are around, residents should not leave their small pets outdoors unattended, Puhala said.

If a coyote seems sick or unusually tame, residents should keep their distance and call 911, local police, or the closest game commission office, Puhala said.

Mary Ann Thomas is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach her at 724-226-4691, mthomas@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MaThomas_Trib.