By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FAIRFIELD - Complaining to police that coyotes have infested their new neighborhoods, residents in this growing Butler County community are in fear for the safety of their children and pets.

The problem has become so bad in Fairfield that the police chief wants to hire hunters to get rid of the coyotes. But some City Council members aren't sure such a drastic move is necessary.

Fairfield's neighbor to the south, Springdale, had a similar problem last year and hired sharpshooters after a pack of coyotes killed a 10-pound poodle. One coyote was killed.

This month, the Fairfield Police Department received complaints from neighbors in new homes in the Hannah Farms subdivision off Winton Road who say they hear and see coyotes at night.

At least one homeowner who lives on Hallmark Court accuses officers and city officials of not taking the hazard seriously, and warns they risk a potential lawsuit should someone's child or pet be hurt or killed.

"We live in a neighborhood infested with coyotes," says a Jan. 22 letter from Michael Land to Fairfield Police Chief Michael Dickey. "The response from the city of Fairfield is - live with it! I find that a pathetic response and one I feel is unacceptable as a caring adult and taxpayer.

"Each night there is howling, growling and hunting being done by a pack of coyotes," the 37-year-old father of four children wrote. "All anyone in our neighborhood wants is the safety we once felt living in Fairfield. It has been taken away by a bunch of wild animals. Please don't let something unfortunate happen before someone reacts."

Coyotes have roamed Fairfield for years, the police chief said Thursday. He says he still isn't sure whether the problem has truly become a nuisance. Nevertheless, he is recommending that City Council hire a professional hunter.

Council members will discuss the issue at their next meeting, Feb. 10. But they are divided on just how bad the problem is.

Councilwoman Jill Kinder is skeptical of hiring sharpshooters, insisting there have been only a few confirmed sightings. She wants more evaluation to determine the extent of the problem.

"An armed hunter may pose more danger than a coyote," Kinder said. "That scares me. Accidents happen, and I just don't know whether it's in the city limits and it's really a safe practice to have armed hunters."

Council member Ron D'Epifanio, however, says sharpshooters should be dispatched immediately.

"I am an animal lover, but I am totally for eliminating the coyotes as quickly as possible," he said. "When coyotes come into the city like this and are a threat to our children and our pets, something has to be done."

Coyotes live in all 88 of Ohio's counties. Besides Fairfield and Springdale, there also have been recent sightings in Evendale, Sharonville and West Chester.

Officials with the state Division of Wildlife say coyotes practically disappeared from Ohio years ago but have been reappearing recently, particularly as suburban sprawl blankets former rural land.

"These coyotes have adapted more to living in a human environment," said Lynn Holtzman, a wildlife biologist with the state Division of Wildlife.

The coyote is an opportunistic, nocturnal canine predator that hunts alone and primarily feeds on mice, other rodents and rabbits.

In urban settings, the coyote, which is much smaller than the wolf, has been known to hunt cats and small dogs.

There have not been any reports of human attacks in Ohio, or in the Midwest, Holtzman said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.