CHURCHILL, Pa. — UPDATE 11/12/2025
The Pennsylvania Game Commission will not participate in Churchill coyote hunts, the agency says.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission is providing clarification after Churchill police told residents about a plan for nighttime coyote hunts that were supposed to happen in the area.
The game commission told Channel 11 that local wardens serve as a liaison to connect private property owners with third-party hunters and trappers, who can use night vision technology and silenced rifles on the private property to hunt coyotes.
However, no one from the game commission comes out to hunt coyotes.
Earlier this week, Churchill police said arrangements had been made with the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the property owner of Churchill Crossings to conduct nighttime hunts of coyotes on the property.
On Wednesday, that message was modified, saying the game commission does not conduct coyote hunts.
Channel 11 spoke with a woman who has lived on Fenwick Drive since 1987. She said she only started seeing and hearing coyotes in the last few years, even capturing one on her Ring doorbell camera. She worries that coyotes could attack her 3-year-old schnauzer, Tilly.
“It’s scary because she’s so small. We don’t let her out by herself anyhow. But now, I check the yard before we come out, just to make sure there’s nothing going on out here,” said Donna Sinopoli.
ORIGINAL COVERAGE 11/11/2025 Churchill Borough Police said the Pennsylvania Game Commission will hold night hunts for coyotes in their community.
Police said they have received multiple reports from residents seeing coyotes in their back yards in recent weeks.
The game commission has been brought in to hunt coyotes at night.
Hunters will use night vision technology and silenced rifles in the area of Churchill Crossings. They have been trained by Game Warden officers to make sure there is no threat to the public.
The borough cited coyotes as the top carrier of rabies and a threat to family pets.
Residents are asked not to attempt to kill a coyote on their own. Officers do not want neighbors to endanger each other.
Anyone who sees a coyote can call 911 if one is spotted and poses an immediate threat.
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