Enfield Neighborhood Plagued By "Infestation" Of Wild Animals

ENFIELD, CT — A somewhat stinky situation has arisen on a dead-end street just off Route 5, as residents have brought concerns to their district town councilor and the Enfield Police Department about a neighbor's practice of putting out food for wild animals, claiming it has drawn an overabundance of skunks and coyotes to the street.

District 2 councilor John Santanella brought the issue up at an Oct. 21 meeting, saying his constituents on Westford Avenue have "an animal infestation problem in their neighborhood." He said one resident "leaves food out for the animals at all hours of the day and night."

Upon inquiry from Santanella, Town Attorney Tom Tyler said he knows of no town ordinance prohibiting such action.

"It is beyond our jurisdiction," he said.

Westford Avenue is a 9-house dead-end street which intersects with Belmont Avenue.

The residents fear some of the critters being drawn into the neighborhood may be rabid or pose other health risks. Santanella said one homeowner has gone so far as to put out poison to kill the skunks. In addition, they have reached out to the regional health district and to animal control officers at the police department.

Animal Control Officer David Yoho told Patch his office did receive a complaint on Oct. 20 about a sick skunk on Westford, which was euthanized.

"We do have a healthy population of coyotes in Enfield," Yoho said. "They are in every neighborhood throughout the town."