Coyotes are a species of canine that are closely related to wolves. Although they are predominantly carnivorous, they also consume pear, watermelon, cantaloupe, and other fruits, which technically classify them as omnivores. These species are native to North America, and they can be found all over the country. Coyotes are a common concern for pet owners as these animals tend to roam around quite often. As they hunt prey and find food, coyotes often go out of the wild and into neighborhood areas. This poses a challenge for pet owners to keep their pets safe against coyotes, and it also adds to the responsibility of pet owners, particularly on how to prevent coyote attacks.
In this article, we are going to share with you some effective tips and tricks that can help avoid or minimize the risk of these attacks happening.
- Understand the Relationship between Coyotes and Dogs
Dogs and coyotes can sometimes be naturally drawn to each other. Considering that they share a basic genetic composition, these two species sometimes try to mate. This should be one of the fundamental facts that you should learn about when taking good care of your dogs. By looking into the behavior of these animals, you can take preventive measures to deal with the concern of coyote attacks. You could, for example, avoid going too deep into the wild when walking your dogs so that you don’t run the risk of coyote encounters.
Additionally, you could also observe the response of your pet when they see or sense a coyote nearby. Do they turn aggressive? Are they hostile? These are some of the questions you would want to ask yourself so that you have a better idea of how to deal with an attack in case it happens.
- Avoid Feeding Wild Animals
As we all know, feeding animals is the best way to tame them. Although this is generally not harmful, it could potentially invite all sorts of danger into your home. This could be a huge concern, especially for those who are living near rural areas where neighborhoods are closer in proximity to wildlife. If you are fond of feeding wild animals or strays, other animals could follow suit and potentially enter your property. In line with this, it’s also good practice you feed your pets inside your homes.
If you choose to feed them outside, you might be inviting other unwanted animals due to the smell. This could increase the chances of encountering a wild animal attack, which could be extremely dangerous to your pet’s health.
- Never Leave Your Pet Unattended
It’s also a good idea to always keep an eye out for your pets. This is especially true when taking walks along trails or around the forest. It’s important that you remain alert for any signs of wildlife. In most cases, your pet could sense these animals from a distance, and the changes in their behavior could indicate the need to get out of that particular place as soon as you can. Even if you’re at home, it’s also a smart move to take a glance at your pets every once in a while. You may never know what’s roaming around your neighborhood and so it’s best to put in that little extra effort in keeping your pets safe.
- Know the Breeding Season of Coyotes
Coyotes are often very active and protective of their young from April through August. This means that you should be extra careful when taking nature walks and hikes with your pets during this period. As much as you can, try to avoid going too deep into the trails and keep your walks and hikes short.
- Know How to Deal With An Attack
In the unfortunate case that you encounter a coyote, remain calm. Panicking could lead you to make rash choices, which could further endanger you and your pet. First, get a firm grip on your pet’s leash. Sometimes it’s your pet that initiates the encounter, so it’s best to keep them at bay and away from the coyote. If you’re lucky, the coyote will remain in its place and may even flee after some time.
In case the two animals charge aggressively at each other, try to lift your pet and carry them up. This prevents your pet from being mangled or wounded by the sharp teeth and claws of wild coyotes. Finally, you could also bring sprays that fend off coyotes, much like how bear sprays work.
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