Safety Around Coyotes; PLUS Behaviors To Be Aware Of If You Have A Dog
03 Nov 2009 5 Comments
in coexisting with coyotes, coyote safety, coyotes and dogs, coyotes defending themselves Tags: coexisting with coyotes, coyotes, coyotes and dogs, coyotes defending themselves, urban coyote behavior, urban coyotes
This information was distributed at a health & safety fair here in the city:
PLEASE DO YOUR PART IN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT WHICH INCLUDES OUR WILD COYOTES!
~ coyotes are a natural part of this environment ~
~ seldom are they aggressive, but they will protect themselves ~
~ an ounce of prevention works! Protect both your dog and coyotes ~
1) Prevent close coyote encounters in the first place:
- never feed a coyote or try to tame it
- never walk towards a coyote – give them space
- never let your dog chase or play with a coyote
- leash your dog whenever you see or hear a coyote or know one is in the area
2) Behaviors coyotes use to protect themselves when chased by a dog
- charge-and-retreat sequence
- a long barking episode, often rearing up on their hind legs
- a nipping at the haunches, same as a cattle dog herding, to move the dog away
- “escorting” or following you out of the park (rarely)
3) If this should happen, you need to scare the coyote off:
- flail your arms to shoo it off, making yourself big
- yell and clap your hands making a very loud racket, or try carrying a shake can
- throw stones around the coyote, not at it to harm it, but near it to scare it
- grab your dog when you can and leave the area, but don’t run which a coyote might read as an invitation to chase you
4) Two coyote behaviors to be aware of — usually between a coyote and a dog who know each other:
- “Chase-Chase” Behavior: the coyote will be traveling in the same direction as a walker and his/her unleashed dog, and will come in close with a little “darting in” and “retreat”. The dog will return the behavior. It is almost a “dare” or “oneupmanship” with no other intention than just this — it verges on play. Some dogs can handle this, some need to be leashed.
- A mother coyote may come to the aid of one of her full-grown pups and the two will work as a team to vex a dog to get it to leave: one coyote will distract the dog, the other will come around to dart in from the other side.
- In both cases, leashing the dog creates a barrier of sorts: it calms down the dog — and this can be seen by the coyote. But also it keeps the dog next to the owner which serves to deter the coyote from coming in. Coyotes do not care to tangle with humans.
Please read postings on December 12th: “Dog Reactions to Seeing a Coyote”, November 4th: “Some Reactions to Dogs”, November 17th: “ANOTHER Reaction to Dogs”, and December 1: “Significance of a Seemingly Unprovoked Challenge”. “Blatant Visual Message for Newcomer Dog” on 2/8/10. “A short back-and-forth chase: oneupmanship verging on play” 2/4/10.
Jun 27, 2010 @ 02:49:38
We live on the edge of a forest. For the past month, there has been what sounds like a coyote pup that comes within 25 feet of our backyard every evening. He and my chihuahua-terrier mix have a conversation, and my dog is happy and excited. He’s gotten out a couple of times and comes back with the back of his coat “licked” – that’s the best way I know to explain it. Do coyotes “make friends” with dogs? Is this dangerous?
Jun 27, 2010 @ 03:34:10
Hi Julie —
I’m glad to try to help. I observe and record the coyote behaviors I see in our San Francisco area parks. I’ve spent hundreds of hours watching them. However, I’m not an expert. My answer is from what I have personally seen AND heard. Most dogs chase coyotes. Dogs, indeed, have made friends with coyotes — coyotes are pretty choosy about who they pick as their “dog” friends — not all dogs are welcome. Your tiny dog must be a very special case, because I’ve only heard of larger dogs playing with coyotes. However, because coyotes are wild animals, you cannot predict with certainty what will come next. My advice to you is to keep your tiny dog away from the coyote — that is what I would do. Possibly nothing bad would happen. But you will be very upset if your little dog does not come back one day. Whatever you do, please do not feed the coyote. Feeding has been linked to them later becoming aggressive towards humans. If they become aggressive towards humans, they will be shot. Feeding is the most unkind thing you can do. We want to keep coyotes wild, and shy of humans. It is best for the coyote and it is best for humans. Hope this helps! Janet =====================
Oct 25, 2011 @ 23:46:50
I’m soon moving into a neighborhood next to walking/hiking trails where coyotes reside. What type of fencing or enclosure will provide safety for my 3 small dogs during the day when I’m not at home and at night?
Oct 26, 2011 @ 00:53:18
Hi Sharon –
I’m not an expert on fences, however, I have heard that coyotes can scale fences that are quite high. Still, in this urban area, I have seen cyclone-type fences over 6 feet high (I would have to check on exact height) which enclose dogs or chickens, and I have never seen or heard that coyotes got inside. In our urban area, I think everyone keeps their pets indoors at night and even during the day when they are not home. This is what we have been told to do by our Animal Care and Control Department, and it is especially true for small dogs. Your presence is the greatest deterrent whenever a pet is out in the open. Also, when you walk your dogs, you should make sure to restrain them — coyotes might not welcome the high activity level of three active little dogs. If they are kept restrained and close to you, you can prevent any coyotes from testing the situation right from the start. Janet