Residents of Henderson City, Nevada, are on alert after home security cameras caught two different encounters between dogs and coyotes in the area.To try to set some of the neighbors’ minds at ease, KVVU-TV spoke with the Nevada Department of Wildlife about how to keep pets safe from coyotes.Coyote encounters caught on cameraIn a video captured late last week, a coyote can be seen making its way into a backyard before it’s confronted by two small dogs. At first, the coyote seems to back off — jumping on a fence. But then, the coyote jumps back into the yard and attacks one of the dogs. The dog was treated by a veterinarian but is doing better now. Days before, another camera in a nearby neighborhood caught video of two large coyotes spending an hour glaring at two pups that were in their backyard. Those dogs were kept safe thanks to a fence. Expert weighs in on how to keep pets safe from coyotesDoug Nielsen with the Nevada Department of Wildlife told KVVU that coyotes — unless confronted — are standoffish. “Not all interactions between a domestic pet domestic dog and a coyote end in the pet being attacked — although that does sometimes occur,” Nielsen said. So why are the coyotes being attracted to backyards? The reason — at least in part — has to do with comfort. “Because we make them very comfortable, “ Nielsen said of backyards. “We make shade, we add water a lot of times.”The expert says smells coming off of things like pet food and dog droppings also attract the critters to backyards. So how does one make a coyote less comfortable in a neighborhood or backyard? Nielsen says one way is to honk horns and make noise when the animals are spotted. The sightings have pet owners wondering if it’s safe to let their dogs outside alone.”How much do you love your dog?” Nielsen said, going on to explain that larger dogs have less of a chance of getting into a bad encounter with coyotes. “The smaller your dog is, the better chance you're going to have a coyote that might attempt to pick it up and carry it away,” Nielsen said.Wildlife officials also told KVUU that cats are vulnerable when wandering around neighborhoods and areas where coyotes have been spotted or are known to frequent. See more in the video player above.
Residents of Henderson City, Nevada, are on alert after home security cameras caught two different encounters between dogs and coyotes in the area.
To try to set some of the neighbors’ minds at ease, KVVU-TV spoke with the Nevada Department of Wildlife about how to keep pets safe from coyotes.
Coyote encounters caught on camera
In a video captured late last week, a coyote can be seen making its way into a backyard before it’s confronted by two small dogs.
At first, the coyote seems to back off — jumping on a fence. But then, the coyote jumps back into the yard and attacks one of the dogs.
The dog was treated by a veterinarian but is doing better now.
Days before, another camera in a nearby neighborhood caught video of two large coyotes spending an hour glaring at two pups that were in their backyard. Those dogs were kept safe thanks to a fence.
Expert weighs in on how to keep pets safe from coyotes
Doug Nielsen with the Nevada Department of Wildlife told KVVU that coyotes — unless confronted — are standoffish.
“Not all interactions between a domestic pet domestic dog and a coyote end in the pet being attacked — although that does sometimes occur,” Nielsen said.
So why are the coyotes being attracted to backyards? The reason — at least in part — has to do with comfort.
“Because we make them very comfortable, “ Nielsen said of backyards. “We make shade, we add water a lot of times.”
The expert says smells coming off of things like pet food and dog droppings also attract the critters to backyards.
So how does one make a coyote less comfortable in a neighborhood or backyard? Nielsen says one way is to honk horns and make noise when the animals are spotted.
The sightings have pet owners wondering if it’s safe to let their dogs outside alone.
“How much do you love your dog?” Nielsen said, going on to explain that larger dogs have less of a chance of getting into a bad encounter with coyotes.
“The smaller your dog is, the better chance you're going to have a coyote that might attempt to pick it up and carry it away,” Nielsen said.
Wildlife officials also told KVUU that cats are vulnerable when wandering around neighborhoods and areas where coyotes have been spotted or are known to frequent.
See more in the video player above.
