Marty Tchakirides Photo
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.”
Finally the coyote went under a shrub and started falling asleep. Meanwhile police animal control Officer Stephani Johnson showed up at the scene. They’ve called in the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Tchakirides said the plan is to have DEP shoot the coyote with a tranquilizer dart, then take it and put it back safely into the woods.
“It’s a cute little thing,” Tchakirides said.
According to a subsequent Register report, the coyote was gone by the time the DEP arrived.
Meanwhile, Tuesday night Tchakirides’ cops were called to a home on Long Hill Terrace in upper Westville, near the Woodbridge line, because two bear cubs showed up in a back yard. The cops ran the cubs back into the woods.
And they observed a safety rule: “Don’t follow into the woods. Mama bear is probably there.”
“If that’s the problem I have in Westville — I am very very lucky,” Tchakirides observed. “I absolutely love animals.”