A coyote in wintertime. Photo courtesy of Michigan DNR
As coyote pups mature and leave their families, pet owners are being warned to keep their furry friends out of harm’s way.
Massachusetts officials are warning people to keep their dogs leashed and their cats indoors as coyote dispersal season begins this fall, according to the Fall River Reporter on Wednesday.
Coyote pups are usually born between April and May in dens of four to eight, according to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, or Mass Wildlife. The following autumn is when they leave the den, or disperse, leading to an increased likelihood of sightings and possible attacks toward other coyotes, animals and humans.
If you encounter a coyote, stand tall, appear aggressive, wave your arms and make loud noises, MSPCA Advocacy Specialist Elizabeth Magner told MassLive in August. Project Coyote calls this technique “hazing.”
In August, Cohasset residents were warned about a coyote presence in their neighborhood after an unleashed dog was killed and one person was hospitalized in two separate attacks. MSPCA estimates there are 12,000 coyotes in Massachusetts.
“Having this many coyotes in such populated areas is relatively new in our state — but they’re here and they’re not going anywhere,” Magner said in August. “We have to coexist and modify our behaviors. If we do then we will be safe — and the coyotes will be, too.”
Mass Wildlife offered several basic tips on how people can keep coyotes from attacking pets and from approaching homeowners’ properties.
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