Coyotes kill police horse in Lapeer County, Michigan

This photo shows a coyote that was spotted on the same farm where a horse from the Lapeer County Sheriff's Mounted Division was attacked and killed Sunday, Jan. 25 near the Lapeer-Oakland County border.

A Lapeer County Sheriff's Mounted Division Horse was attacked and killed Sunday, Jan. 25, by a pack of coyotes, not far from a home, a lieutenant said.

The attack took place around 3 p.m. on a farm near the area of East Oakwood and Hosner roads along the Lapeer-Oakland County border, said Lt. Bruce Osmon, head of the mounted unit.

Osmon said the horse was feeding around 20 feet from a barn and 70 feet from a home.

"All of a sudden (the owners) heard a commotion," he said.

"There was a pack of coyotes that had taken the horse down," said Osmon of the mare, or an adult female horse, before the animals were chased off by dogs on the property. "It's their mating season starting. They are hungry and more aggressive."

Given the distance from the home, Osmon said, "This was pretty aggressive."

"Unfortunately they ganged up on this mare and drug her down from the back," he said, with the incident also posted on the mounted unit's Facebook page. "We just need to get out to the community there is a danger right now.

"It could have been a kid or adult," Osmon said. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Oakland County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene along with the Lapeer County Sheriff's Department.

The mounted unit currently includes 11 deputies that put in more than 2,240 hours on patrol in 2014, with the two deputies that owned the horse having been active with the department for around 18 months.

"The unit's main duty, per the Sheriff, is law enforcement," said Osmon, but they also perform crowd control, search and rescue, community policing and guard inmates during work detail outside of the county jail.

With increased coyote sightings in the area, Osmon said some residents have taken to one peculiar defensive tactic.

"A lot of people are starting to get burros around here," he said, noting the loud noises they make and their willingness to defend themselves and other animals against coyotes.

Osmon did have a few words of advice for any resident that may come in close contact with a coyote.

"Stay clear and leave the area," he said.

Residents should also eliminate all outdoor food sources, clear out wood and brush piles, as well as keeping pets inside or accompanying them outside if coyotes have been spotted in their area.

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