Fascinating post!
Never knew they ate rats!
My daughter lives in London and they have a similar thing with Foxes invading the bins and attacking cats. A fox is far less dangerous than a Coyote though although.
Here in Norway ii is wolves that folk fearing entering the towns and villages.
I often see them when I am in my mountain cabin studio.
The Govt wants to shoot them all but I am against it. They are dangerous but I say live and let live. A firecracker would soon chase them off..