Appreciatively, Janet

Thank you so much for your advise! Wow, lots of GREAT information!

I guess it’s all about getting to know a coyotes behavior and you are doing a WONDERFUL job in advocating for coyotes and as well as educating the public!

In reading your email and watching your wonderful video, I was LESS afraid on my morning walks with my dog!

I have a better UNDERSTANDING on what should I ever encounter another coyote while on walk with my dog!

I will be checking in more often on your webpage to learn more as well as watch more of your amazing videos on utube!

One more thing, I will also send more people to your webpage and site!!! I also belong to a dog forum and I KNOW your information will make them feel more at ease!

Thanks again!!!

Kalo

Please don’t be afraid of the coyotes. You are bigger and smarter then they are, and they know this. Just keep your distance if you can — it makes you and them feel safer. Coyotes do not approach people. You can only shoo it off if you are 30-50 feet from it. You need to make the coyote move away from you: walk towards it with your eyes fixed on it and be angry about it. You could toss a pebble or scream at it. If you don’t make the coyote move, you haven’t accomplished anything.

The issue is your small dog, which, indeed, you need to protect. Keep it leashed and close to you, and pick it up if you see a coyote. If the coyote is close enough, shoo it off. If it is far enough away, just walk away from it. Also, never run away from a coyote — just walk.

If you haven’t seen my video, you might want to. There are two, on on Coyotes As Neighbors: Let’s Get to Know Them, and the other on Shooing Off A Coyote. Please let me know if these are at all helpful. Looking forward to hearing back from you! Janet

I am not aware of any den around our neighborhood, however, there is a wash! That seperates the freeway and I believe they are jumping the wall to come over to the neighborhood.

I have walked different routes, but, still I have to be careful! I currently carry Bear Mace, which I hope to NEVER have to use.

Of course last week my neighbor (on his usual walk WITHOUT a dog) spotted two coyotes on two seperate days!

I usually walk my dog at 5:30 a.m. because if I wait too much longer it gets so hot we can’t walk.

I know they must be searching for food, and I just don’t want to have to encounter one as I am SCARED to death of them!!!

I did encounter one, and he jumped out of a bush…This coyote just briefly stared and ran! THANK GOODNESS :)

The other incident was that a friend and I were just about leaving our houses when one passed by and stopped and stared at us! My friend made loud noises and the coyote just stared at us, and didn’t appear to be shaken! As if he has gotten so used to us! My friend threw some rocks and it wasn’t fazed at all…

I quickly picked up my dog and headed to my driveway! Thank goodness I wasn’t far at all.

If I EVER encounter one again, just picking my dog up will be enough for them to not attack me or my dog?

I’ve heard incidents were a coyote is so hungry and unafraid of humans that SOMETIMES, they will be so bold as to try to steal the dog from a humans arm or they attempt to attack!

Are these stories, just lies!!! Being that I live in AZ, there was an incident where a gal was walking her dog and encountered a coyote and she picked her dog up and the coyote boldly followed her.

The womans started yelling for help because after trying to scaring the coyote it too seem un shakened and kept following her until a neighbor heard her and helped her out.

I don’t want to have to hurt any wildlife, but, I will tell you I wouldn’t hesitate to use my bear mace if a coyote wouldn’t back down! I am also thinking on getting a stun baton as well….

Again, please know, I would NEVER want to be mean to any wildlife, but, if it means on protecting my dog, then I would have no choice!

Thanks,

Kalo

I’m wondering if this being the pupping season has anything to do with this behavior. If you are at all close to their dens, the coyotes might be keeping an eye on your dog for this reason. Could you try walking a different route? Be assured that coyotes will not approach you if you are walking alone. The issue is your dog. Your dog is tiny — picking him up if a coyote will keep him safe. I’m surprised that throwing rocks in their direction doesn’t make them move on. It normally takes a couple of tries before they get the message. Could you give me more details about what actually happens and what time of day and circumstances this coyotes are appearing so bold? Thanks, Janet

I live in Phoenix, AZ, and I walk my dog regularly!

I do my best to educate our neighborhood, not leaving food, closing lids on garabage cans, and especially not feeding the coyotes.

However, Coyotes now live amongst us in subrian neighborhoods.

What can I do to proctect me and my 21 pound dog.

I carry bear mace and I am now thinking about purchasing a Stun Baton just in case I had to use it.

I don’t want to harm the coyote, but, lets face it they have gotten bolder and simply yellling, throwing rock etc. do not work!

Thanks,

Kalo

Since all of my work has been with urban coyotes, I’m going to send your comment and question on to Mary Paglieri, a wildlife-human conflict manager. She’ll be able to answer you more thoroughly. To help her answer you, could you please answer these two questions?
1) Where in the US are you located
2) Is the dog loose in the yard? – in a kennel? – tied up?

Thanks, Steve. I look forward to hearing from you. Janet

Thank you for writing about your situation. I would assume that particular coyote has become habituated to people, possibly through feeding. Pointing a gun at the coyote isn’t going to scare him off if he doesn’t know what a gun is.

Better to toss a pebble in his direction angrily — not at him but towards him. He’ll be able to understand this and he’ll learn that you don’t want him around. Also, yelling at your dog is not the same as yelling at the coyote. You need to fix your gaze on the coyote as you yell viciously at him AND you need to approach him for him to know you are directing your actions towards him.

Although the coyote might have looked big, they weigh only about 20-40 pounds. Most of their size comes from the fluff of their fur.

Please let me know if he comes again. The loud noise from your gun may have scared him enough to avoid the same location, at least for a while.