2019 Coyote Smart Island Forum

October 2, 2019 – 6-8PM at CCRI Newport Campus

Register online and join the event on Facebook!

Join us at the next installment of our Smart Island Series of public engagement forums on October 2, 2019 at 6PM at CCRI – Newport Campus! The 2019 Coyote Smart Island Forum will explore the present population of coyotes on Aquidneck Island and how we can work together to ensure a safe, healthy future for us all.

The evening will include a presentation from coyote researcher, Numi Mitchell, Ph.D. of the Narragansett Bay Coyote Study, about the continued presence of coyotes on Aquidneck Island, followed by a panel discussion on the state and local response with representatives of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, the three Aquidneck Island municipalities, and the agricultural community. Brad Shear of Potter League for Animals will moderate.

John Shea, AIPC Executive Director, said, “civic engagement is an essential goal of the AIPC as we seek to keep all Islanders engaged in discussions on topics relevant to our shared future. Very few issues are unique to only one municipality – we are all connected. What happens in one part of the island generally affects us all. Coyotes are a perfect example of this because they don’t care if they are in Newport, Middletown, or Portsmouth. They cross our town lines every day.”

The population of coyotes on the Island has expanded since they first arrived in the 1990’s. This forum aims to inform Aquidneck Islanders about the habits of our newest top predators, how humans contribute to the growth or decline of their numbers, and provide answers to the many questions about our mysterious new neighbors.

CoyoteSmarts is a public information initiative of a group of Rhode Island organizations that have come together to address the growing presence of coyotes on Aquidneck and Conanicut Islands—and in other communities throughout the state.

This event is free and open to the public, but RSVP is requested by going to: www.coyotesmartisland.eventbrite.com. For questions email cnelson@aquidneckplanning.org.