POLICE have warned pet owners of wild coyotes after footage was released of the animal creeping through neighbors' yards.
Neighbors in Draper City, Utah are scared for their pets, as new footage is released of wild coyotes walking through their neighborhood.
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Law enforcement in the area warns that pet owners should watch their animals closely due to a string of attacks.
Residents have shared their stories on Facebook, revealing terrifying incidents of coyotes grabbing their small animals.
“I've had three close friends that have lost their dogs. It's just so traumatic and super sad,” Heather Pulley told local CBS affiliate KUTV.
Paula Coggins, who owned a dog named Koda, shared her horrifying experience as she let her dog out in her yard, while a coyote was close by.
“All of a sudden I heard a sound, and I looked down. There was a coyote grabbing him and it took off” she explained to the local station.
Coggins said she chased after the animal after the incident, but the coyote would not let go of Koda.
Draper resident Kym Wells also believes she lost her dog to a coyote, after letting it out in the evening.
“My husband let our dog out in the backyard at 11:00 p.m. on July 6. He heard him whimper a few minutes later, and he was never found. My husband went right out and searched for him for hours, but never found him,” she explained.
“The next morning a coyote was seen on our street, so we are pretty sure he took our dog, Teddy. We have a new puppy now, but with the coyote sightings almost daily, we are so nervous to even walk our dog.”
Coyotes have also been an issue in Parma, Ohio where a resident has spotted the wild animal through their ring camera.
Around 3am the predator was spotted walking across the driveway, with another one following closely behind.
The resident told local Fox affiliate WJW-TV that the neighborhood is close to West Creek Reservation, so coyotes are often spotted in the area, but they never caught it on camera.
While these sightings can be scary, there are key things residents can do to keep their animals safe.
It's recommended to remove garbage or pet food before it gets dark, in order to not attract coyotes to your home, Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports.
If you spot a coyote in your yard, start clapping and making loud noises to scare it away. However, if that does not work it's best to call a professional.
