Westville, The Neighborhood With A Heart ...And a Turkey Breast...For Coyote Pup

Westville’s top cop was armed and ready for his latest pursuit near the West River—with turkey slices on whole wheat bread.

Lt. Martin Tchakirides, Westville’s district manager, hoped that pieces of the sandwich would help him nab a stray coyote cub.

The cub was spotted roaming the grassy median between Legion Avenue and North Frontage Road near Tyler Street.

Workers were mowing grass there and notified police about the roaming pup.

Tchakirides showed up and found “a little thing” about six months old in the Evergreen Cemetery off the Boulevard. “It probably weighs about 15 pounds,” he said. It looked “tired and scared.”

“They’re cutting grass on the Boulevard by the West River. Any wildlife, it’s pushing them out,” Tchakirides said. Many of the animals get pushed deeper into the woods toward West Haven. But some have been showing up on the New Haven side. Like Wednesday’s pup.

“It probably got separated from its family,” Tchakirides said. “Usually they’re not away from their family this young. It’s got to be under six months old. It’s a little thing. I guess the eating isn’t too good around New Haven—not enough squirrels and chipmunks.”

Every time Tchakirides got within 15 feet of the baby coyote, it ran away. He broke off pieces of the turkey sandwich he had with him, hoping the coyote would take it. No luck. “When I was throwing it, I think he got scared I was trying to hurt him.”

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