County website: 125 coyote sightings in 2 weeks

So far, 125 people have logged onto a Mecklenburg County Parks website to report coyote sightings in less than two weeks.

County commissioners are scheduled to get an update on the coyote tracking program at their Tuesday night meeting, but it's hard to imagine that the statistics they will be reviewing can compare with the individual stories from terrified neighborhoods.

"People are afraid to come out their house. They're afraid to walk their dogs," said Yanni Hixson, who lives in the Oakhurst neighborhood off Monroe Road.

Several neighbors there have reported coyote sightings in the woods behind the neighborhood, and some have had pets attacked.

"He came out from under my car, broke all to pieces, neck broke," said Lisa Sturdivant, who had to have her cat put down after the attack.

Sturdivant said she has seen coyotes on her patio and that the whole neighborhood is on edge.

"At night now, no one comes out and walks their animals. We don't come out. We go to the store and come right back in," she said.

To learn more about the coyotes in Mecklenburg County, click here. 

To file a sighting report, click here.