Encountering Coyotes: Coyote Interactions
Coyotes and Pets
Although attacks on humans are rare, coyotes are opportunistic and will prey upon free-roaming cats and small dogs. The best prevention is to keep pets supervised, indoors, or on a leash.
The thought of losing a pet for any reason is awful. Keeping them supervised and safe has benefits beyond protection from coyotes. Pets are also vulnerable to cars, toxins/poisons, and free-roaming dogs and cats.
The thought of losing a pet for any reason is awful. Keeping them supervised and safe has benefits beyond protection from coyotes. Pets are also vulnerable to cars, toxins/poisons, and free-roaming dogs and cats.
PUCP Director's Dog on a Leash
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PUCP Director's Cat in a Catio
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Cats
The number one thing you can do to keep your cat safe is to keep them indoors. Catios (a cat patio) are a great option to allow your cat to get fresh air and watch wildlife without being at risk (or putting other wildlife at risk). Cats Safe at Home has great resources on how to build a catio.
Any cat that lives outside is at risk of having an encounter with a coyote. However, there are steps you can take to reduce risk.
Any cat that lives outside is at risk of having an encounter with a coyote. However, there are steps you can take to reduce risk.
- Support spay/neuter programs to prevent litters.
- Find homes for friendly cats.
- Feed outdoor cats on a schedule.
- Remove food and dishes when cats are done eating.
- Pick up scraps and keep the feeding area tidy.
- Learn more about keeping cats safe from the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon.
Dogs
Small dogs can be at a similar risk from coyotes as cats. Be sure to keep them on a leash and supervised. Before letting your dog out, give your yard a quick scan—especially if you have seen coyotes in your area.
Larger dogs and coyotes may interact—especially in the spring and summer while coyotes are protecting their pups. Never let your dog play with a coyote. While it can look harmless (or even cute), that canine curiosity can quickly get confused and turn defensive/aggressive.¹
If you come across a coyote while walking your dog:
1. Think about how playful-looking behavior between two dogs can sometimes escalate quickly and terribly and imagine how much more difficult communication is when it is a dog and coyote—they are speaking slightly different languages.
Larger dogs and coyotes may interact—especially in the spring and summer while coyotes are protecting their pups. Never let your dog play with a coyote. While it can look harmless (or even cute), that canine curiosity can quickly get confused and turn defensive/aggressive.¹
If you come across a coyote while walking your dog:
- Let the coyote run away if it wants to.
- Haze the coyote away if it doesn't run on its own.
- Pick up your dog from ground level if you can.
- Leave the area if you feel your dog is at risk, or if the coyote keeps following you.
- Consider an alternate dog walking route in the short term if coyote activity in the area is high (especially during spring and early summer—when coyotes have young pups).
1. Think about how playful-looking behavior between two dogs can sometimes escalate quickly and terribly and imagine how much more difficult communication is when it is a dog and coyote—they are speaking slightly different languages.
Chickens and Other Outdoor Animals
Protect chickens, rabbits, and other outdoor animals by:
*These tips will also protect your outdoor animals from other predators such as raccoons, dogs, and cats.*
- Using predator-proof fencing.
- Chicken wire is not effective for predator-proofing. Chicken wire keeps chickens in but doesn't keep predators out. Use ½ - ¼" hardware cloth (welded wire mesh).
- Secure the bottom of the enclosure.
- The safest option is to enclose the whole floor of the enclosure with hardware cloth (bury it so that the animals are not walking on wire). You can also create a hardware cloth "skirt" on the outside of the enclosure—attach L-shaped hardware cloth from the sides of the enclosure and extend it two feet outward on the ground.
- Secure the top of the enclosure.
- Be sure to enclose the top of the enclosure for full protection.
- Secure your animals in a smaller, predator-proof hutch or coop within the run at night.
*These tips will also protect your outdoor animals from other predators such as raccoons, dogs, and cats.*
Learn more about coyote-proofing outdoor enclosures from the Open Sanctuary Project and Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue.
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