Two families in a neighborhood near Belle Chasse say their cats went missing a few days ago.
They were shocked to learn, the cats may have fallen victim to a coyote attack.
Other pet owners in Plaquemines Parish have reported attacks, and officials believe packs of coyotes are on the prowl in both rural and more heavily populated areas.
"We've lost a lot of small pets throughout Plaquemines Parish, but we've gotten a lot of complaints lately in the Belle Chasse area -- somewhere we normally don't have a coyote problem," said Plaquemines President Billy Nungesser.
With the colder weather over the last few weeks, Nungesser says the situation has gotten worse.
"Just last week, we were checking some of the levees in South Plaquemines, and ran across a pack of five of them, and we were going down the levee and they took off into the brush," Nungesser said. "They've taken some dogs and cats out of people's back yards. They've dug under the fence, and they go out there and their dog's gone."
As the complaints keep rolling in, Plaquemines Parish Health Department Superintendent Raymond Ferrer says crews are working to get a handle on the problem.
It hasn't been easy.
"We have traps. We have about six of these throughout the areas where the people have been complaining -- along the wooded area in Belle Chasse and along the canals. We've actually tried to bait them with live rats, but unfortunately the coyotes are way to smart to approach these things," Ferrer said.
Officials are considering contracting a professional wildlife nuisance agent to help round up the animals, but until that happens, they urge pet owners to take precautions.
"Because these animals will target smaller animals, we ask that the residential folks keep an eye on their animals, and bring them in before dark. Remove food and water. We certainly don't want to create an environment to attract the coyotes," Ferrer said.
