A company hired by Greenwood Village to eliminate aggressive coyotes has shot and killed what officials say is the first problem predator.
The adult female was brought down Thursday night in Westlands Park, which is near South Quebec Street north of Orchard Road.
Greenwood Village officials confirmed the kill by Jay Stewart, whose company, Animal Damage Control Wildlife Management Services, was hired Feb. 5.
The City Council approved limited shooting of coyotes in parks, greenbelts and trails to address concerns about a growing coyote population and the danger to people and pets.
In December, a 14-year-old boy fended off an attack by a coyote in a Greenwood Village open space area and was not injured.
The contract calls for the company “to monitor coyotes that have behaviors that lead to aggressive behavior,” Ryan Gregory, assistant to the city manager, said today. “We did not ask him if the coyote did X, Y and Z behaviors.”
Greenwood Village City Manager Jim Sanderson said, ” is the professional hired and he is the person who makes the judgments, but he is not going to be killing a coyote that’s afraid of humans.”
Gregory said he didn’t know what time the coyote was shot. He said Stewart, who is being paid $60 an hour or $200 a day, will provide more information about the shooting.
As of Feb. 11, Greenwood Village police had received 71 reports about coyotes, compared with 186 in all of 2008.
A conservation activist group, WildEarth Guardians, called on Greenwood Village officials today to end the coyote-killing program.
“Greenwood Village wanted vengeance, and they got their eye for an eye,” said Nicole Rosmarino, WildEarth’s wildlife program director in Denver. “Only one coyote has been accused of attacking a person, and one coyote is dead.
“We urged the city to call it even and call off its hired gun,” Rosmarino added.
WildEarth, which is dedicated to “protecting wildlife, wild places and wild rivers,” has objected to Greenwood Village’s approach, saying it poses an “acute public safety risk” and is not effective.
Rosmarino said she filed a reckless-driving complaint against Stewart on Feb. 14, contending he blocked their vehicle with his vehicle after they followed him and took photos of him working.
Ann Schrader: 303-278-3217 or aschrader@denverpost.com
