By Sheila McLaughlin
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BLUE ASH - Elusive coyotes spotted near businesses and subdivisions in the city's south end are keeping residents on edge and police busy.

"They don't call them 'wily' coyotes for nothing," said Police Chief Chris Wallace, whose officers have been unable to catch the wild canines.

Sightings in the last six weeks have prompted calls from businesses and residents in the Carpenter's Run and Fox Hollow subdivisions. But coyotes are nothing new here.

Amy Craig on Fox Hollow Drive hasn't seen one recently, but last fall she and her dog were surprised by one on the fringes of her back yard.

The animal stared her down, then trotted across Glendale-Milford Road. A neighbor reported seeing one in her fenced yard two months ago, and police told residents that coyotes frequent the nearby Blue Ash Airport, she said.

"Now that they are being spotted again, I guess I am a little bit concerned because we have two small children," said Craig.

Wallace said coyotes began appearing in the northeastern Hamilton County suburb three to four years ago.

The problem was serious enough in Springdale last year that police sent sharpshooters out to the woods behind the Oxford Hills subdivision in search of a small coyote pack that killed a 10-pound poodle.

Fairfield officials turned down such drastic measures in March even though residents expressed fear that coyotes in that Butler County community posed a threat.

Kentucky officials suspect that at least two coyote populations live within the Interstate 275 loop in Kenton County.

E-mail smclaughlin@enquirer.com