[Reprinted from original]

Dozens of people in Old Metairie are demanding a solution to the problem of coyotes that they say are still prowling in their neighborhood.

It's a problem they have been dealing with for months.

Now, there's a new petition to get the issue under control.

The petition that is circulating online says that, over the past few weeks, there have been coyote sighting and attacks and the signers want the parish to find a solution.

The parish says a permanent fix is not going to happen overnight but it is working on a study to address the issue.

Parish leaders said the coyotes people are seeing may be a new pack.

They said they can't trap the coyotes because that causes them to breed in the area.

The parish stresses that people need to yell at the coyotes if they see them, and make it known they are not wanted in the area.

They urge people to not leave pets and food outside for long periods of time.

"There's been sightings during the day and people are afraid to walk their baby carriages and their pet next to them. We are just very confused and we don't feel like we should be living among the coyotes," Liz Schneider said.

"We would look at all available options. You are not going to control coyotes. It's very difficult to control wildlife so we are looking at all options and doing a comprehensive study," Robin Beaulieu-Lee, director of the Jefferson Parish Animal Shelter, said.

About 50 people have signed the petition so far.

More details on the parish study will be released in the coming weeks.

Beaulieu-Lee said the shelter has not received any calls involving coyotes that presented an imminent danger.