Something vicious is killing animals in a rural neighborhood. Parents are on alert, warning each other to keep an eye on their children.

In Gloucester County's Achilles neighborhood, something vicious this way comes.

"A few weeks ago we had two goats that were attacked," said Clint Asbell, the goats' owner.

The animal attacks started last spring shortly after wildfires burned through much of the town. The animals were small at first. Rabbits, cats, a puppy were killed or injured.  

Then last week, fourteen-year-old Brandon Asbell found his full grown Angora goat, 'Ernastine', the herd queen, slaughtered near a pile of wood.  

'Ernastine', who was pregnant, weighed about 80 pounds. She was no match for whatever killed her.

"It had been torn to shreds, the whole backside had been torn to shreds," said Brandon.  

"I'm concerned," said Brandon's mother, Wendy Asbell. "When I saw what part of that goat was eaten, that was the size of half my daughter!"

The Asbells called Gloucester County Animal Control, and got this live animal trap. But so far, they've come up empty.

"It probably won't work if it's a wild animal," Clint Asbell said. "If it's a dog, maybe we can entice it with bait."

Bait might not cut it with an abundance of wildlife and barnyard animals nearby. It's been able to jump five foot fences and wrestle animals to the ground. Parents are keeping their children close, hoping the next target, won't be a little boy or girl.

"If it were to get a child, they would have no hope," Clint Asbell said. "I have five children, this is my youngest, and it scares me for them."

Locals think the attacks might be from a coyote, but nobody knows for sure.

The Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is aware of the problem.

Residents may soon be issued more traps.