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appalachiablue

(41,137 posts)
Wed Jan 25, 2023, 01:30 PM Jan 2023

Hold onto Pets, Kids: COYOTES Aggressive In Mating Season, Jan - March US, Winter Prey. 'Coywolf'

Last edited Wed Jan 25, 2023, 04:06 PM - Edit history (3)

- 'Hold on to your pets: Coyotes aggressive during mating season,' KDVR News, Denver, Jan 24, 2023.

DENVER (KDVR) — Colorado Parks and Wildlife is reminding pet owners that coyotes are entering their mating season, which can increase aggression towards pets and even in rare cases, people.

“Coyotes are in breeding season from mid-January to mid-March,” Joey Livingston, with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, said. He said in early March after coyotes have their pups, they can be more aggressive, as they are protecting their dens from perceived threats.

“In rare cases, they can turn that aggression towards people, so you want to make sure you remain vigilant,” Livingston said. The animals most at risk are smaller dogs and cats. It’s important to keep them on a leash during walks and to be with them when they are outside in the yard.

“You got to remember these are wild animals. Your pet is domesticated, these are wild animals. They are tough and hardy,” Livingston said. Large dogs can also be vulnerable to coyotes. “Coyotes fight for their lives on a daily basis. They are known to pack up on larger dogs,” Livingston said.

The majority of the time, he said, coyotes will run away from humans. But in cases that they don’t, the best thing to do is make yourself large, make noises and throw rocks or other items at the coyote.

“The biggest risk is small pets who are off-leash or off by themselves,” Livingston said.

Bruce Ryman, his wife & their dog have lived in Lone Tree for over 20 years & know they share their neighborhood with coyotes. “There are always coyotes around here. You have to use common sense.

Don’t walk at night, and if you do, coyotes will be out there,” Ryman said.

Ryman told FOX31 they’ve had their own close call with a coyote stalking them while they walked with a small dog. "He was hungry. We had a small dog. The coyote followed us for a while, so we picked up the dog. It was obvious the coyote was looking for a meal there,” Ryman said.

So keep a leash — and an eye — on your pets this winter into spring. -- https://kdvr.com/news/local/hold-onto-your-pets-coyotes-aggressive-during-mating-season/
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- Aggressive coyotes can attack pets, kids and rarely adults at night or during daylight hours in residential yards and community areas, suburban or urban. Carry a stick when out walking, and keep a rake, shovel and other tools nearby at home for defense if needed.

- Clean up around trash cans, garbage containers, pet food bowls & birdfeeders that can attract coyotes, racoons, fox and other wild animals.
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- Also: - Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Va. More Coyotes in Urban Areas, Jan. 2023,
https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/animal-trapping-company-sees-more-coyotes-in-urban-areas-of-hampton-roads-virginia/291-2ee57ee4-6ef4-46a9-9e0c-218e1a524b1f

- California Couple Warns about Coyotes after 6 Animals Attack Dog, People, Jan., 2024,
https://people.com/pets/california-couple-warns-about-coyotes-after-six-animals-attack-dog/



- CBS Boston, Boy Attacked in Arlington (Mass.), 2022.




- Coyote stalks & starts going in for attack on elderly woman & dog. Canada city, B.C.




- The *COYWOLF. "They're big. And they're aggressive." Boston, 2018.




- 'Caspar,' 'Great Pyrenees, Sheepdog Attacks Pack of Coyotes to Protect Animals on GA Farm: 'Not a Normal Dog.' The 21-month-old, 85-pound dog named Casper decided to take on a pack of 11 coyotes — killing 8 of the animals — & suffered injuries to his tail & ears during the incident. People Mag., Dec. 9, 2022. https://people.com/pets/great-pyrenees-named-casper-attacks-coyote-pack-to-protect-sheep/
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Hold onto Pets, Kids: COYOTES Aggressive In Mating Season, Jan - March US, Winter Prey. 'Coywolf' (Original Post) appalachiablue Jan 2023 OP
Extremely beneficial creatures. Rodents would be out of control without them. nature-lover Jan 2023 #1
+1 2naSalit Jan 2023 #2
Ik, more housing & development has damaged their habitat & pushed appalachiablue Jan 2023 #4
Humans aren't squeezing them out. They thrive in human environments NickB79 Jan 2023 #8
+ Judi Lynn Jan 2023 #9
These animals are not native to eastern areas in the US Farmer-Rick Jan 2023 #3
TX for the info., esp. animals that are afraid of noise & thrown objects, only bigger creatures... appalachiablue Jan 2023 #7
Last week Bayard Jan 2023 #5
"There are always coyotes around here." Paladin Jan 2023 #6
Well said, adaptable animals, suburban buffet appalachiablue Jan 2023 #10

nature-lover

(1,469 posts)
1. Extremely beneficial creatures. Rodents would be out of control without them.
Wed Jan 25, 2023, 01:43 PM
Jan 2023

Their habitat has been squeezed out due to new housing. That is why we are seeing them more frequently in neighborhoods. Do not leave out trash or intentionally feed them. They will quickly become dependent on humans for food and interactions will happen more frequently.

appalachiablue

(41,137 posts)
4. Ik, more housing & development has damaged their habitat & pushed
Wed Jan 25, 2023, 02:25 PM
Jan 2023

Last edited Wed Jan 25, 2023, 09:19 PM - Edit history (1)

coyotes into larger and newer areas. Too many humans and reckless 'growth' are destroying ecosystems and the environment. Crisis.



Coyotes sometimes hunt in packs (like wolves). A neighbor of the man in the video said coyote packs lure dogs for prey.

NickB79

(19,246 posts)
8. Humans aren't squeezing them out. They thrive in human environments
Wed Jan 25, 2023, 10:36 PM
Jan 2023

Lots of food resources (looking at you, people with outdoor cats and bird feeders). Lots of hiding places. There are more coyotes now than any time in history, thanks to humans creating a veritable buffet for them.

Farmer-Rick

(10,175 posts)
3. These animals are not native to eastern areas in the US
Wed Jan 25, 2023, 02:22 PM
Jan 2023

They have moved in from western states because most states killed off the wolves that were their main competitors for food. So basically the coyotes moved in where wolves use to be.

Here where I live, the brown wolf (smaller than a gray wolf) was the main type of wolf but they are all pretty well gone now. The coyotes and brown wolf were able to breed and now we have something in between. Just think big coyotes, or small wolves unafraid of humans.

I've been eye to eye with some of these big fellows. Yelling and throwing things didn't phase them. Not until my 150 pound Anatolian shepard came from around the barn and barked, did they decide they would move on.

I have noticed some damage to my chicken pasture fencing, that only something big like a bear, deer or large dog could have torn apart. It's tough to keep those chickens safe. I once lost 10 chickens in 3 days when I had to be in the hospital and couldn't repair the fence. Though they haven't gotten any of my lambs or sheep, knock on wood.

appalachiablue

(41,137 posts)
7. TX for the info., esp. animals that are afraid of noise & thrown objects, only bigger creatures...
Wed Jan 25, 2023, 03:46 PM
Jan 2023

I've read a little about coywolves, not sure if I've seen them. Just found this report..

Bayard

(22,075 posts)
5. Last week
Wed Jan 25, 2023, 02:37 PM
Jan 2023

A friend of mine here had one of her dogs attacked by coyotes. This is a hound-mix that liked to get under the fence. Apparently the coyotes came after her, and she tried to get back under the fence. They tore her hind end to pieces. If not for her Great Pyrenees going nuts inside the fence, they'd probably have finished her off.

Coyotes are very opportunistic.

Paladin

(28,262 posts)
6. "There are always coyotes around here."
Wed Jan 25, 2023, 03:17 PM
Jan 2023

That's the key takeaway from that report. Coyotes are the most adaptable animals ever. Suburbs are one of their favorite places---because the hunting is so good. Take care of your pets.

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