All that stands between little Lola and an 85 pound coyote is a thin fence and her owner, Jami Filiault. She keeps a close eye on all five of her pomeranians. Filiault has been living on Russell Street in Sunderland for 15 years and the nightly noise is getting louder.

Filiault says, "We're hearing coyotes like we've never heard them before and they are starting earlier, as early as eight at night letting us know of their presence and they go on and off through the night."

And lately they're making their presence know in other ways. She says some cats around town are missing, and she blames the growing population of coyotes.

Mass wildlife officials say eastern coyotes are larger than coyotes out west, weighing up to 85 pounds. Homeowners are allowed to harass coyotes, in fact the best thing you can do if they come too close to your property is to make them feel as unwelcome as possible.
It's also a good idea to make sure the seed is cleaned up around your bird feeder. Loose seed attracts rodents which is a favorite meal off the coyote menu.

Wildlife officials also want to remind folks that while the howling in the night may sound imposing, it's usually only coming from a pack of less than 10. But it's still more than enough reason to keep a close eye on your pets.

Massachusetts Wildlife Official Ralph Taylor says, "They do a lot of this in the evening and it's somewhat disturbing for some people that are not used to coyotes and think that's something of the wild west, unfortunately Massachusetts has become part of the wild west in that regard."