Coyote hazing team to be deployed in Mass.

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BELMONT, Mass., Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A town in Massachusetts has approved a coyote management plan that involves deploying a team of trained volunteers to harass coyotes that live in the area.

Coyotes in Belmont, Mass., have become too comfortable around humans, The Boston Globe reported Saturday.

The town's Board of Health recently passed a coyote management plan that involves educating residents as well as employing coordinated hazing aimed at scaring off the animals.

"We're happy to sit here and say, great job, move forward," said health board Chairman David Alper. "It is neat to be the first at something, especially something that's going to have a positive impact."

The hazing team would be responsible for responding to calls about aggressive coyotes.

Volunteers will confront the animals with shouts, projectiles and jets of water from hoses and squirt guns.

"The biggest component of this plan is education, and hazing when appropriate," Animal Control Officer John Maguranis said. "As it is right now, we don't have any issues with coyotes. This is something that we're putting in place to curtail any issues with coyotes in the future."