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COLORADO SPRINGS – Colorado coyotes are getting busy getting busy and that makes them a whole lot more aggressive than usual.
The Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife says the animals are far more active and territorial during this period of the year, which means you need to pay even more attention to your pets while they’re outdoors. While coyotes are found throughout the west, they thrive in urban areas from downtown to the smallest suburbs.
They can and will be found in any neighborhood that provides their basic needs — food, water, shelter and space and they’re not new to residential areas. Your neighborhood offers numerous food sources like mice, rabbits and voles. They even eat birdseed and berries. Coyotes will happily eat anything you throw into your trash bins.
In many cases, the animal’s have adapted to the presence of humans and they’ve lost their natural fear of us, which isn’t necessarily a good thing. Unfortunately, they pose a major threat to our furry family members and they’re seen by coyotes as another food source. Some larger dogs can be perceived as a threat or even a possible mate and coyotes have been known to take pets right out of their own yards, while there on a leash and while they’re off leash in open space areas.
TIPS FOR DOG OWNERS
■ Always supervise your pet outside, especially at
dawn and dusk
■ Keep your dog on a short leash while recreating —
avoid retractable leashes
■ Do not allow your dog to play or interact
with a coyote
■ If possible, pick up your dog when coyotes
are visible
■ Avoid known or potential den sites and thick
vegetation
■ Like domestic dogs, coyotes will defend their
territory and their young
■ If you must leave your dog outside, secure it in a fully
enclosed kennel
CAT OWNERS
■ The only way to guarantee your cat’s safety is to keep
it indoors
■ Outdoor cats also face potential death from cars, diseases, foxes, parasites, raccoons, dogs and birds
of prey such as owls
■ Do not allow your cat to play or interact
with a coyote
■ If possible, keep your cat indoors when coyotes
are visible
■ Avoid known or potential den sites and thick
vegetation
Although naturally curious, coyotes are usually timid animals and normally run away if confronted. Coyote attacks involving humans are rare. In many cases, these attacks occur as a result of people feeding coyotes. A coyote that associates humans with food may become demanding and aggressive. A coyote that bites a person must be destroyed. It is illegal to feed wildlife in many areas and by feeding coyotes, you put yourself, the neighborhood and coyotes at risk.
If you have concerns about encountering a coyote, you may want to keep a deterrent handy. Deterrents can
include rocks, pots and pans, vinegar in a water gun, paintballs, air horns or a repellent spray.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO DISCOURAGE AN APPROACHING COYOTE
■ Be as big and loud as possible
■ Wave your arms, clap and throw objects at the coyote
■ Shout in a loud and authoritative voice
■ Do not run or turn your back on the coyote
■ Face the coyote and back away slowly
To report the feeding of coyotes or their aggressive behavior towards humans, please contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling (303) 291-7227. After hours, call Colorado State Patrol at (303) 239-4501.
You can also find even more information by clicking HERE.
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