What To Do If You See A Coyote While Taking Your Dog For A Walk

Coyotes are native to North America and many have made their way into residential and urban settings. While they are more often than not timid and will pose no threat to humans, it is important to know how to react if you come across these animals, particularly when with a pet.

^{Source: TAPinto}

To help you keep your dog safe and allow peaceful coexistence of the two species there are certain precautionary measures that you can take to avoid possibly dangerous encounters:

• Always keep your dog on a leash when out for walks. This allows you to gain control of them quickly if any unexpected circumstances arise.
• Choose your walking routes wisely. If areas are known to have active coyote populations, try to avoid them.
• Choose your walking times wisely. While coyotes are naturally diurnal creatures, meaning they are active during the day, they have adjusted their habits to urban life and are now more likely to be seen at sunrise and sunset hours.

These measures can help in yo avoid potentially dangerous situations, but it is not possible to guarantee that you will not encounter coyotes when walking your dog. If this does occur, it is important to know how to react. If your dog is small, you can pick them up and immediately move them out of danger, and if they are large you can quickly gain control of them by using the lead.'Hazing' is a technique commonly used to scare coyotes away and create a boundary between them and humans. When walking with your dog it is particularly important not to run, and to instead try and 'shoo' the coyote away. You can do this by:

• Making yourself as large and as intimidating as possible by raising and waving your arms and standing tall.
• Shouting in an aggressive and authoritative tone
• Throwing small objects their way to scare and never to injure the animal
• Making loud noise with cans filled with pebbles, sticks and various other objects

^{Source: CBC News}

It may take some time to sufficiently impact the animal enough that they leave, and they may come back again. If this happens you should simply repeat the procedure as before.To reduce the likelihood of a coyote coming to your yard or house you can:

• Never leave pet food outside of the house
• Don't let your dog out alone, at night in particular
• Make sure to rid your yard of any food or items which may attract coyotes

^{Source: Pamela Underhill Karaz}

To ensure that both you and your dog are safe it can be wise to carry a small water sprayer or noisemaker when going on walks in areas which coyotes have been sighted.By following these tips and being aware of this information, you and your dog should be safe and happy to coexist with coyotes.

^{Cover image:  Jay Ryser/Project Coyote & PetSafe}

* * *

At Holidog, we aim to improve the lives of your furry friends. Enjoy your holidays with peace of mind, knowing your pet is in great hands (find a petsitter near you) and spoil them with our monthly subscription box filled with yummy treats and toys (get your free box here). You can count on us!