Northern Indiana airport facing coyote hazard

ELKHART, Ind. — Officials at a northern Indiana airport have turned to shooting coyotes that wander onto the property after unsuccessfully trying to trap the animals.

Elkhart Municipal Airport manager Andy Jones says at least two landings have had to be aborted because of coyotes near or on the runway and one plane taking off missed a coyote by about 20 feet.

Jones tells The Elkhart Truth that workers used live traps for two years without catching any of the coyotes. Police officers have killed three coyotes this year and officials believe five more have been spotted.

The airport about 10 miles east of South Bend is seeking a federal grant toward an estimated $1 million wildlife fence. That fence would be 10-feet tall and extend three feet underground.