Broomfield Hopes Rubber Buckshot Will Scare Coyotes

BROOMFIELD, Colo. (CBS4) - Coyotes a bit too wily in this northern Denver suburb are meeting a more formidable foe: rubber buckshot intended to keep them away from housing developments and other populated areas.

The city is adopting the new measure to ward off aggressive coyotes after efforts to use paintball guns failed. The bullets are meant to scare but not hurt or kill the animals, the city said. The buckshot is more accurate at longer ranges, too.

But some residents said the measure is too harsh:

"I do not understand it. I don't see them being aggressive in this neighborhood," one resident said.

Another added: "I don't think they really harm anyone. They kind of just mind their own business. If you scare them away (or) make loud noises, they don't hurt anybody."

Two close encounters with coyotes in the past week prompted the switch.