![]() “People should never feed or approach coyotes,” Hamer said. Providing coyotes with food can lead them to lose their natural fear of humans and even increase aggressive behavior as they become dependent on an easy food source. While coyotes generally don’t attack people, a study of reported incidents indicates that human behavior contributes to the problem. These include deliberately feeding them with handouts or inadvertently providing access to unsecured food sources such as garbage, pet food or livestock carcasses. “Many landowners and pet owners are unaware that some of their actions could be attracting coyotes,” Hamer said. But often, and especially in urban areas, peoples’ habits may serve to unintentionally invite coyotes into the human environment and onto their properties, which can ultimately lead to conflicts and also risks to pets. Coyotes also breed during late winter during this period they become more territorial and could be more aggressive.”Ĭoyotes are naturally wary of people. “Coyotes may be more likely to target cats and smaller dogs during the winter if they are metabolically stressed. This can lead the inexperienced young coyotes into trouble such as eating garbage or cats,” said Matt Hamer, WDFW wildlife biologist for Snohomish, Island and San Juan Counties. “During the fall, sub-adult coyotes are kicked out of their family groups and have to fend for themselves for the first time. There are also fewer natural food resources available, which can lead to conflicts and changes in behavior. In the fall and winter, coyotes often become more visible as juveniles begin their search for new territories and the cover offered by vegetation becomes less dense. Despite ever-increasing human encroachment and past efforts to eliminate coyotes, the species maintains its numbers and is increasing in some areas.” The state fish and wildlife department notes that coyotes live across a wide geographic range, “In Washington, these intelligent and adaptable animals now manage to occupy almost every conceivable habitat type, from open ranch country to densely forested areas to downtown waterfront. In addition, a neighbor who has a doorbell camera now notifies her “every time he sees a coyote go through his front porch up our drive,” she added, “which is often.” While the Petersons’ yard is fully enclosed by a nearly 5-foot-tall fence, she said she knows of at least two separate occasions that a coyote has gotten over the fence. (Butch has since died but Lucky continues to wear the vest.) Maggie Peterson’s dogs Butch and Lucky (in yellow) wearing their coyote vests. She purchased coyote vests for the two dogs she owned at the time - Butch and Lucky– adding that “it’s quite hilarious (looking), but it has spikes all around the throat area and along the back.” Every time the dogs went into the backyard, they wore the vests. “We actually did way more than that,” she said. Peterson said the fish and wildlife staff member she spoke with recommended that dogs not be left outside unattended around sunset or sunrise, because those are the times when coyotes are typically most active. Adult coyotes typically weigh 20-35 pounds, with males being slightly larger than females. The species is closely related to dogs but coyotes feature muzzles that are longer and narrower. ![]() Coyotes are among the wild animals that can come into contact with domestic pets and people in urban settings.Īt first glance, they may resemble a German shepherd dog, but coyotes are predators that feed on smaller animals such as rodents, rabbits and birds, but can also include cats and even small to mid-sized dogs.Ĭoyotes are identifiable by their shorter, bushier tails that almost drag on the ground. Living with wildlife comes along with the various local habitats and wilderness areas prominent throughout the territory. The Puget Sound region is known for its many trees, beaches, parks and natural beauty. ![]() Peterson contacted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to let them know about the sighting and said she was surprised to learn that coyotes are prevalent throughout the area. She quickly told her husband, whom she reported was initially skeptical until he looked out back and also saw it wandering through the backyard. “She came back in, I got my coffee, I’m sitting reading the paper and I see movement out of my eye and I look out and walking across our back deck, like right outside our door, is a coyote – I could not believe it,” Peterson said. It was their normal routine to start the day, but that was about to change. Early one morning several years ago, Edmonds resident Maggie Peterson let her 25-pound Boston terrier out to wander in the family’s fenced back yard so she could relieve herself. ![]()
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