Officers arrived to find an adult coyote behind the commode. They safely removed the animal and released it unharmed.
The coyote had been in the bathroom, unbeknownst to residents, while family members used it that morning. It entered the house through an open door about an hour before it was found while the family was loading items into vehicles for a trip, police said.
Although not native to Ohio, the coyote is common across all 88 counties, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
If there is a coyote on your property, remove all attractants to help deter it from returning, such as removing garbage and pet food before nightfall and cleaning up around the grill. Coyotes usually prey on small mammals such as rabbits and mice. However, they are known to take small dogs and cats, which should be supervised or kept inside at night when coyotes are active.
Coyotes are curious but generally fearful of humans. Clap your hands and shout to scare off coyotes that are investigating your yard. If it seems to lack a fear of humans or poses problems even after removing attractants, contact a nuisance trapper.
You can find a trapper near you by calling the ODNR’s Division of Wildlife at 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) or visit www.wildohio.gov for more information.
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