Portsmouth considers coyote feeding ban

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (AP) -- The town council in Portsmouth is exploring a ban on feeding coyotes and other wild animals after hearing from residents, police and a scientist who studies coyotes about problems with the animals.

The Newport Daily News reports council members on Monday night voted to direct town staff to prepare an ordinance to consider next month. The ordinance would be modeled on a similar ban passed in Middletown in 2011.

Numi Mitchell, lead scientist for the Narragansett Bay Coyote Study, showed the council photos of coyotes, raccoons, and a skunk eating from a feeding station people set up for feral cats. She says people don't understand that leaving food out for cats ends up feeding predators.

Acting Police Chief Jeffrey Furtado says coyotes are a problem all over Aquidneck Island.