Animals are disappearing on private properities in Warren County and property owners say coyotes are to blame.

Warren County Animal Control has a coyote bounty in place -- and property owners are taking advantage.

"Their population has been getting bigger and bigger. We've lost farm animals because of them, some household cats also," said owner of Hazard Mill Farms, Robert Hupman.

Hupman owns a 600-acre farm that has turkeys, cows and horses. Coyotes are a problem on his property.

"I also have two poultry barns up here so they come into my compost and eat dead turkeys. They'll scare the turkeys and I have problems with them spooking my birds and losing a couple thousand birds at a time," said Hupman.

He says he sees them on a regular basis when he's hunting. He's taking advantage of the coyote bounty put out by Warren County several times already this year.

The bounty is $50 a coyote but property owners say they don't do it just for the money.

"My main concern is just controlling the population," said Hupman.

Animal Control Officer Laura Gomez says coyote overpopulation is a problem, especially for farm owners.

"The coyotes are most likely out in the rural areas of the county. We see them more in the southern end of the county maybe the western end of the county but sporadicly throughout," said Gomez.

And just because you don't see them on your property, doesn't mean they're not there.

"If you have livestock, chickens, things of that nature they are going to be in those areas. It's especially at night. You're not going see them out in the day as much but they are out there," said Gomez.

During the past two years, the county has received 50 coyotes in exchange for bounties.

"They have no quit in them. They're top of the food chain around here and I mean they go out after any kind of populations. Baby turkeys, wild turkeys, baby deer. You can see the difference in the deer population and turkey population because of it," said Hupman.

You must turn a coyote in to Warren County Animal Control within 72 hours of getting it.

They'll assess the animal and submit paperwork to the Board of Supervisors for approval.

Keep in mind -- you must have a valid hunting license ... And all hunting and trapping laws still apply.

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