Local

Park closed indefinitely over coyotes

ATLANTA,None — City leaders have closed a southwest Atlanta park over fears of coyotes in the area.

The city's Parks Department issued an alert in November, warning residents that a den of coyotes is living in or next to Emma Millican Park. City leaders planned to close the park temporarily until trappers captured the animals, but it is now closed indefinitely.

Atlanta City Council member Joyce Sheperd watched one of the coyotes devour her neighbor's 90-pound goat.

"In this particular community, it's too close to the coyotes and the school and the park and the playground," she told Channel 2's Erin Coleman when the park was first shut down.

After several attempts to trap the animals, the family of five or six remains on the loose.

"We've caught raccoons. We've caught dogs, but we have not caught coyotes," Sheperd said.

The city is now using a new trapper and the legal department is involved because the coyotes have dug in on private property, and they're not sure who owns it. Sheperd said the park will not be reopened until the coyotes are caught.