Portsmouth Makes Feeding Coyotes Illegal

The town of Portsmouth has approved an ordinance which mirrors Middletown's "No Coyote-Feeding Ordinance," according to Town Councilor Keith Hamilton on Tuesday. 

The vote was 7-0 in approval of the ordinance. 

"Dr. Numi Mitchell said we should see positive results by the fall as long as residents abide by the ordinance," wrote council President James Seveney in an e-mail. 

Several residents have recently complained about an increase in coyote sightings in town.

Earlier this month, we asked if Portsmouth had a coyote problem on Portsmouth Patch's Facebook page. Here's what a couple users had to say. 

Chris Redfern Carceller: From the amount of cats missing in town, and the loss of a friend's small dog due to a coyote attack last month, I would think that we do have a coyote problem.

Tara Rudman: I hear packs of them at night all the time..its scary sounding...way to close to home

Middletown is currently the only Rhode Island community to establish and enforce a "No Coyote-Feeding Ordinance" with fines. Except for birds and outdoor farm animals, the Middletown ordinance bans residences from feeding in a manner that would attract coyotes or other non-domestic animals. 

Violations of the ordinance can result in fines of up to $500 per day. To view Middletown's ordinance, click here.

The Narragansett Bay Coyote Study tracks coyotes on Aquidneck Island. To see tracking of coyotes or learn more about the study, click here. 

What do you think about an Anti-Feeding Ordinance? Will this help reduce the coyote population in town? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section below!