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Beware of Coyotes

by Joshua Bub, DVM

Jan. 9th, 2012

Coyote 

     I received a frantic call from my wife while at work last month. She was walking our dogs on the trail behind our neighborhood when they started getting agitated, sniffing the ground and pacing back and forth along the trail. Our older dog, Alli, started pulling on the leash trying to head in the direction of a dog that was on an adjacent trail, about 20 yards away. Problem was, it wasn’t a dog, it was a coyote. My wife started walking quickly with the dogs back to the neighborhood, but the coyote followed, slowly closing in. This was about the time I got the phone call. As I was talking to her (and she was picking up rocks to put in her pocket) she made it back to the neighborhood, but the coyote still followed. It actually followed her all the way to our house, when it finally disappeared. Many small dogs look like a perfect meal to coyotes, the thing is my dogs are 50 and 70 pounds, and were on leash with my wife right next to them. The very next day at Mesa, we heard two similar stories about coyotes, and within the next month saw a few coyote attacks and had a few owners report their dogs missing.

 

    We all know that coyotes are out there, but at Mesa we are seeing a trend towards coyotes becoming more aggressive and more daring than they have been in previous years. They are smart, adaptable predators, and if hungry enough will venture into neighborhoods and civilized areas, and lately have shown no fear in approaching humans or larger dogs. I have heard stories of coyotes luring dogs away from owners by acting playful and when they get close, attacking. They have been known to jump fences and carry away small dogs and cats that are unattended. And more often than not, when you see one coyote, its pack-mates are waiting close by.

 

     Without sounding too sensational, if you live in Colorado, even in a city, your pets are at risk for being attacked or killed by a coyote. I recommend not leaving small dogs in the yard unattended, especially during the dawn and dusk hours when coyotes are most active. While on a trail at these hours, keep your dog close and if not on a leash, be ready to leash them if necessary. Any cat who spends time outdoors is at risk. By taking the proper precautions, and being aware of the dangers, we can hopefully reduce the number of wounded and missing animals we see and hear about at Mesa, and keep your pet safe.