A High Street couple, horrified after a coyote attack on one of their sheep, said the run-in with the canine was the only predator attack they’ve had in more than 30 years of raising animals.

“It was terrible,” said Francis Huard. “There was no way to save (the sheep), really. We’ve seen coyotes out back once in a while, but nothing like this has ever happened before.”

Huard and his wife, Cindy, were at home around 7 p.m. on June 22 when Cindy said she noticed one of their two sheep was missing. Francis said the animals were loaned by a friend to help keep their grass down as an easy alternative to a mower, and typically the two stayed together as they roamed the property. “The other sheep was calling for it, looking for the other one, and we knew that was strange,” Francis said.

Cindy said she then saw a large coyote dart by, and she immediately feared the worst. She went outside to the rear of the house to investigate, and, to her shock, discovered the badly injured sheep.

The couple both said the animal’s back leg was badly chewed, and the animal attempted to move but could not stand up. They soon called the police, and they later asked officer Rick Langlois to shoot the suffering animal.

Cindy said the attack took place in broad daylight. Francis said that in years past, they had other sheep, turkeys and even cows that were never harmed, but he added that the two placid sheep probably seemed like an easy job for the coyote because no larger farm animals were around to intimidate a would-be predator.

“We’ve had cows out there with our sheep before and never had a problem, but cows are very big and they probably kept the coyotes away,” Francis said. “I’ve never seen one in broad daylight like that before, so it might have been pretty hungry.”

The Huards said the remaining sheep appeared upset after the traumatic event, and it was brought to the nearby Charmingfare Farm to be with the other animals behind the petting zoo’s heavy fencing. Police Chief Michael McGillen said the incident was an unusual one for Candia and warned that residents should keep a close watch on pets that venture outdoors and to also make sure that trash is stored in secure containers.

In New Hampshire, coyotes may be shot at any time of the year. According to online Fish & Game and animal control resources, most New Hampshire coyotes average about 35 pounds and the animals are increasingly being seen in suburban areas, such as Portsmouth.