Published: April 24, 2008 10:36 am            

Coyote nabbed in downtown Salem

SALEM, Mass. — A coyote that had been wandering downtown Salem this week was captured near the courthouse.



"This is the first I can remember" of a coyote downtown, said Don Famico, the city's longtime animal control officer. The animal was found near the site where 19 people accused of witchcraft were hanged to death in 1692.



The wild animal was caught around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in a parking lot on Lynde Street. Famico and Patrolman Michael Levesque cornered the animal under a car and secured it using long snare poles with loops on the ends.



"We played (tag) with him a little bit until Mike was able to loop a leg," Famico said.



The incident happened quickly but was seen by a few passers-by.



"I didn't realize it was a coyote," said Mary Shold, who was walking by with friends. "I thought it was a dog."



The animal had an injured leg and open sores and was malnourished, according to police reports.



"He had to be disposed of. ... It was definitely sick and definitely injured," Famico said. There were no reports of human contact with the coyote, according to police.



"He's been running around the downtown for the last several days," Famico said.



One caller told police he thought it was an injured German shepherd and had put out food and water.



The coyote caught Wednesday was not the first wild animal to venture into the downtown in recent years. In fact, Famico has taken a skunk out of the Museum Place Mall parking garage.



Four years ago, the downtown was abuzz with news of a deer knocking over a tourist, sending the woman to Salem Hospital with a concussion and fractured ribs. Several days later, a deer — believed to be the same deer — was hit by a car on Essex Street near the public library. It was later euthanized.



Tom Dalton writes for The Salem (Mass.) News.

        

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