17/01/2021
*NOTICE! The next 4-6 weeks is mating season for coyotes. Coyotes can scale a 6' or 7' fence with ease so please check your yards if you live in an area that has urban coyotes before letting your pets out. We urge you to strongly consider NOT letting your dogs or cats out alone. The outcome can be tragic as they can and will attack your pets.
Our home backs onto an alleyway with a greenbelt behind us and several times in the past few weeks we have seen coyotes wandering down the alley and some coming close to the fence line hanging out where they know dogs run free in back yards.
While the wild canine has been driven into residential areas because urban development has encroached on their lands, we still need to be vigilant and protect our pets.
Coyote breeding typically peaks in late February and early March, the gestation period averages 58 to 63 days. Male coyotes can become more aggressive during this time of year, the long and short of it all is that coyotes always pose a risk to your dog (and other small pets). That risk increases during mating season.
How can you help keep your companions safe?
Spay or neuter your pets! Coyotes are attracted to and can mate with unspayed domestic dogs. Unspayed female dogs in season will attract male coyotes and unneutered male dogs can be lured away by the scent of a female coyote in her ovulation cycle.
Additionally, there have been cases of male dogs being lured by the female coyote’s scent and killed by male coyotes.
You should also be mindful that clever coyotes learn the daily schedules of people and their pets. If you let your dog out every evening at 9 p.m., chances are that a coyote is well aware of your routine and is waiting in the shadows at 9 p.m. sharp. So change your schedule a bit, walk your dog on leash close to you, and keep a close eye on them at all times.
Strategies to keep your pets safe during coyote mating season:
* Never feed coyotes — it is illegal to feed coyotes in most places. Feeding endangers your family and neighbors as it lures coyotes into neighborhoods.
* Keep unattended cats and dogs indoors or in completely enclosed runs, especially at night, and do not assume that a fence will keep a coyote out of your back yard.
* Accompany your leashed pet outside. Make sure you turn on lights if it is dark to check your back yard for unexpected wildlife before letting your pet out.
* Keep dogs on short leashes while walking outside (less than 6').
* Leave noisemakers on hand to scare away coyotes that may enter your yard, such as whistles and horns.
* Yell, clap hands, blow a whistle and try to make yourself look larger if you have a close encounter with a coyote.
