Keeping Pets Safe Around Coyotes

Coyote vs dog (Photo – Nick Fullerton)

There have been numerous coyote (Canis latrans) sightings in Pasadena, Alhambra and surrounding cities.

By Candy Rinard

These sightings are not because there has been an influx of coyotes in the area, but because coyote pupping season is from March through August. Pups are being weaned, and parent coyotes are under a lot of stress to find resources to feed them. This makes the coyotes more visible during all times of the day, so it is likely that they are seen multiple times at different locations. If they are not finding enough natural foods, such as small rodents, they may be forced to try something new and different. Unfortunately, this could include small dogs and cats. During this time, coyotes also may become more curious about whether large dogs in the neighborhood are a threat to their offspring. Even though the coyotes are just being protective parents, coyote sightings can fuel tensions in neighborhoods.

Simple guidelines and recommendations to ensure the safety of pets

These are some simple guidelines developed from recommendations by my friend Mary Paglieri, a Behavioral Ecologist who has studied, resolved conflicts with and been hands-on with coyotes for 20+ years:

When walking your dog: 

• Always be vigilant and aware of your surroundings.

• Always keep your dog on a leash and, if you see a coyote from a distance or walking in your direction, AVOID it by tightening your leash and walking in the other direction. The coyote may follow your dog for a while; that is natural behavior, so do not be alarmed. Simply walk away from the coyote and it will stop following at some point.

• Never run from a coyote, which will cause the coyote to chase your dog.

• Always pick up small dogs and walk away calmly. If the dog is small enough, tuck it under your jacket or shirt to remove it from sight.

At Home – when there are coyote sightings in your neighborhood: 

• Do not let your cats roam the neighborhood. Keep them inside until coyotes have left the area. If your cat is used to living with dogs, it will not run away from a coyote.

• Never leave small dogs unattended in your backyard. Make sure all potty breaks outside are supervised.

• Make sure large dogs are contained in a fenced yard to avoid any altercations with coyotes. Usually large dogs are the aggressors protecting their property.

• Remove pet food, pick up fallen fruit from trees, keep the ground around bird feeders seed-free so that coyotes do not come into the yard for these things.

• Use coyote rollers if you are concerned about coyotes climbing over your fence.

• If the backyard is unfenced, keep the bushes thinned to avoid providing a coyote refuge.

I have been to several meetings within the past year where representatives from various organizations have told residents to “haze” or scare a coyote aggressively whenever they see one. Mary Paglieri advises, however, that hazing to chase coyotes out of your yard or away from your dog should be used sparingly. Such tactics will not work in all circumstances and can actually create a dangerous situation for your dog because dogs will mirror your aggression towards the coyote and escalate the conflict.  There also have been instances where people have harassed coyotes and been bitten. Mary has been hired by many cities to resolve conflicts with coyotes and to recommend the best ways to safely coexist with them. Experts such as her should be consulted by cities and neighborhoods for scientifically-based solutions.

For any questions or concerns regarding coyotes, contact mary[at]littlebluesociety.org, and check out the Little Blue Society coyote page.

Candy Rinard, a mother of four boys and a lifelong resident of the San Gabriel Valley. She’s an animal enthusiast and a wildlife volunteer.

End of article

Editor’s Note: This is an article from July 23, 2019, republished for the benefit of the community.