Coyote Safety

There seem to be a LOT of coyotes out and about in the San Diego area this year.  We’ve seen them on our trail runs, hikes, and even in our neighborhoods at all times of the day! In Scripps Ranch, the locals have set traps but unfortunately a dog got caught in a trap so we do not recommend doing that.

We have heard of coyotes coming into people’s garages and snagging the dog from the garage and they can definitely jump over a fence or wall so please don’t think your pet is safe in the back yard without supervision!

They have even been known to attack while the dog is on leash so if one approaches and you can, it may be a good idea to pick your small dog up off of the ground.

Many coyotes will lure your dog to their “pack” where they will then attack.  So even a single coyote is not to be ignored.

So what should you do if you see a coyote?  Usually coyotes are elusive, preferring to stay away from humans.

However, if you see one and you are with your dog – especially a small one:

•  Keep Fido on leash and close to you.
• If a coyote approaches, throw rocks or sticks and shout in an authoritative voice.  They will most likely go the other way.  You don’t want to approach it too rapidly or it may feel the need to defend itself.
• Staying in a group on trails will also make them less likely to come near.
• If you live in a place where you have a higher incidence of coyotes, you may want to invest in an air horn. This will scare them off and alert your neighbors as to what is going on. 

It used to be that you would only hear about coyotes being out in the middle of the night or early morning but they are hungry and thirsty so that is no longer the case.  We have seen them in the middle of the afternoon, there was one standing outside of my garage at 6:30 a.m. and one lured my neighbors King Charles Cavalier at 9 p.m. when they were out for their evening walk.

Please be aware of your surroundings and be careful with your pups!

Have you seen a coyote recently?  Share your experience!