Bethlehem Township resident Don Wright is worried about the increasing number of coyotes he sees in his neighborhood, along with stray pit bulls. "There are a lot of small pets," he told commissioners at their April 6 meeting. "Also small children."

Manager Melissa Shafer stated that the township web page has several tips on dealing with coyotes.

-Firmly secure your garbage so that a coyote would not be able to gain access and eat from garbage bins.

-Only feed your pets inside and never leave or store pet food outdoors.

-If you know of any rodent problem on your property, have the issue managed quickly, as rodents are a prime food source for coyotes.

-Do not leave any smaller dogs, cats or other pets outside unsupervised, especially between dusk and dawn.

-If you have a fence or gate to your back yard, make sure it is secured.

-Keep your grass well maintained and all shrubs, trees and bushes trimmed, doing so will remove shelter for coyotes.

-Remove any structures, equipment, piles, etc. that could provide shelter to coyotes.