Special Report: Predator on your property

John Green, dog owner
"They just ganged up on him. He wouldn’t have been a little snack for him."

Once a creature of the American west, coyote have moved into the Baystate. They live in our cities. Our suburbs. And our backyards.

Stephanie Hagopian, MSPCA, Living with Wildlife
"Coyotes do well in the suburbs. They do well in urban places. They’re here. And they're here to stay."

In response, the MSPCA has released a new public service DVD... Which offers simple tips on keeping coyote at bay.

Stephanie Hagopian, MSPCA, Living with Wildlife
"We want them to fear us as they naturally do and continue to fear us. If we teach them that we're going to feed them - or there's food associated with our home or yard, they'll change their behavior. They'll become more bold, less afraid of people. And that's where we get in trouble."

Stephen Cifuni, Homeowner
"They used to come in right through here."

Stephen Cifuni of Revere believes his cat was killed by coyotes. After that, he made some changes to his daily routine.

Stephen Cifuni
"We don't feed the cats outside anymore. We don't leave a lot of birdseed on the ground."

Other tips from the video?

Make sure to close trashcans tightly and don't leave out food or birdseed. Attracting small critters like squirrels and mice can also attract coyote, who see them as easy prey.

Consider using motion sensitive sprinklers and lights.

Keep pets indoors at night and always use a leash.

And make sure your neighbors are on board too.

Stephen Cifuni
"You could do everything in the world to keep coyotes out of the yard, but if your neighbor didn't, it'll just cancel out what you're trying to do."

The video makers say just following these simple tips can help you and your neighbors coexist with coyotes.

Stephanie Hagopian, MSPCA, Living with Wildlife
"We really need to learn to live with them and keep our pets safe."

To order the MSPCA video "Learning to Live with Coyotes, a Misunderstood Animal" click here.

(Copyright (c) 2005 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)