forget fear of lions...2nd Coyote fatal attack on a pet in a week for Milw suburb.

[HereSince1628]

http://www.scrippsmedia.com/tmj4/news/Second-coyote-attack-reported-in-Wauwatosa--327032411.html

Both cases small dogs. One while it was on a lead with it's jogging owner.

Coyotes are common in WI, they are even common in suburban and along urban river-greenways areas, but we've not had many of these sorts of interactions. Now, as is often seen in the aftermath of coyotes killing pets there is talk of need to destroy them.

[DesertFlower]

1. i don't know what to say. a few years ago

in an upscale area of phoenix they killed coyotes.

of course we don't want our pets or children harmed by coyotes, but some areas have been so overbuilt that they have nowhere to go.

i live in a remote area outside of phoenix. i do see coyotes occasionally, but there's still enough desert for them to get what they need to survive. yet, just north of here is a large overbuilt community that was once just mountains and desert. they've been having some problems. i know that in other areas of phoenix they walk around golf courses with no fear of humans.

a few months ago whoopi goldberg who lives in NJ said she saw one near her house. she was shocked. said when she lived in LA it was common to see them.

there have been sightings in new york's central park. seems like there all over.

that being said i am an animal lover.

[HereSince1628]

4. 'tosa is an inner suburb. Coyotes are really pretty common

Lots of that has to do with the existence of a riparian-greenway that creates a corridor from downtown Milw to the northwestern countryside that has lots of parks.

But the city has had something of a laissez-faire attitude about them especially a 3 legged coyote that was allowed to become a neighborhood mascot that that people would set out dog food to feed.

Now we've got at least one coyotes that expects food around residences and is willing to kill pets even when people are present.

The result's going to be tough on coyotes.

[Arugula Latte]

2. This is incredibly common, even in cities.

Keep your kitties indoors, but preferably with an enclosed catio for outdoor access.

Dogs ... Keep them on a leash.

[HereSince1628]

5. First fatality was a dog on a leash...taken in the presence of the owner

[Arugula Latte]

38. Yeah, that's rough. Not much to be done about that.

[postulater]

3. They are looking for Walker.

Wauwatosa is where he hides when he is back in Wisconsin.

[postulater]

6. A third was just reported on the local news.

It happened in the same area this morning. It was on a leash outside the home.

[HereSince1628]

7. Yes just saw that. Unfortunately, seems at least one coyote has developed a bad habit

[cherokeeprogressive]

8. Coyotes kill pets where I live on a daily basis. n/t

[hunter]

10. Same here.

When I was a kid they'd sometimes take our chickens in broad daylight.

A couple of our dogs had scars.

They got a lamb once too.

The coyotes also killed one of our smaller dogs.

Outdoor cats were not safe.

I might say maybe we need more wolves and mountain lions and grizzly bears around to keep the coyotes humble.

Personally, I think Mother Nature is winding up to smack this civilization in the head with much worse than coyotes.

Too bad it's usually the innocent who suffer first; sometimes the little dogs walking on leashes, sometimes the little Syrian children.

[L. Coyote]

9. Coyotes gotta eat too.

[DesertFlower]

11. exactly. it doesn't make them bad.

they're doing what's natural for them.

a few months ago i had what i call a spiritual experience with one. i had just left home when i saw a coyote. he had just eaten, because he was licking his chops. i stopped the car and watched him. he didn't move. we had eye contact for about 3 minutes. he didn't try to run.

fortunately when i got to my nail appointment i told the woman sitting next to me. she understood. most people would think i was nuts.

[L. Coyote]

12. Coyotes are really cool animals, just like dogs except not domesticated.

I had an encounter in the wild with one on Mesa Verde. It was really cool about me being near and we had quite a bit of time together, then a tourist drove past and it took off. I knew one as a kid that was raised by people from a pup, but it did not domesticate well and went back to the wild. Unless really hungry, they keep away from most people. In Arizona, they climbed on my roof and could hunt the rabbits from above, quite the advantage. My fence was perfect for them to use for going up and down. I could hear them walking above my bed and watched them jump down via the fence top from the bedroom window.

[DesertFlower]

13. when we moved to phoenix in '89 and i saw one i

was so excited. really felt like i was in the southwest. i think they're beautiful.

[L. Coyote]

14. In Apache Junction they use the drainage system as their freeways under town

and there is a spot in the middle of town where they have to exit one tunnel in the main drag median to get to another, right in the middle of old 60 between Ironwood and Apache Trail. So, they get seen a lot there in daylight. They are quite calm about surfacing and jogging along between the lanes of traffic.

[DesertFlower]

15. i'm not familiar with that area.

i'm up in northwest phoenix -- just south of anthem -- up in the hills. only a few houses up here -- still a lot of desert and places for them to live and hunt.

a few years ago one came up on my back patio at night. he had his nose in the air -- sniffing. i don't know if he sensed that my cats were inside. he must have been hungry because they usually don't come that close. my cats were indoor cats and they had no desire to go out -- they knew what was out there. they're all gone now -- crossed over the bridge.

when we first moved into the this house we were watching tv in my bedroom at night and a javelina came right up to the sliding door and looked in. my husband freaked. he didn't realize how big they were and was afraid they'd crash through the door. i said "they probably came in and out when the house was being built and they just want to see who lives here". they leave their nose prints on the doors. they travel in packs -- families. they have poor vision.

another night a rattler was outside my bedroom door -- i thought he was dead until he flicked his tongue. i checked a few hours later and he was gone.

now mind you -- i'm a city girl. grew up in queens, ny -- lived in an apartment buidling with 105 apartments. lol. now i live on 2-1/2 acres with my own well and septic system. i love it here. the only thing i miss about new york is the food and ethnicity.

[GreatGazoo]

25. when I worked for Mammoth Mtn ski resort, we had lots of coyotes but only a few got names

One was injured and would beg at the bottom of Chair 2 ("Stump Alley&quot . We named him Toby.

The other would sit on a peak near mid chalet, the center of a ski resort with 40,000+ people zipping around on it and she would sit the way a domestic dog sits, back end on the ground, front legs straight, motionless on this mini peak staring off into the horizon.

Watching her from the gondola or the chairlifts, you could see why the native americans considered coyotes to be a spiritual animal (inhabited by the spirits of fallen warriors). She had this amazing calm and detachment. The wind would sweep up the face of the mountain and blow her hair back and she seemed to take it in, perhaps sniffing the air for the scent of prey. She was called "Yoda"

[Major Nikon]

35. Unlike pets, coyotes are native animals

One of my neighbors was pissed that animal control wouldn't do anything about the coyotes that were eating her cats. I explained to her that coyotes were native to the area which is why animal control isn't going to do anything about them and I also explained that the reason we have coyotes in our neighborhood is because people keep giving them a fresh supply of cats. She wasn't hearing any of it.

[alphafemale]

16. I have no clue what you are trying to say here.

Animals are also killed by cars.

Are you suggesting we should kill coyotes and cars to protect pets?

[pnwmom]

17. Probably s/he's just saying we have to guard our pets and keep our eyes open.

Maybe even carry some pepper spray on hikes.

[pnwmom]

18. In Irvine, CA this summer there was a rash of coyote attacks on small children.

As their environment is more and more disturbed, we have to be on the watch for incidents like this.

Note that these coyotes were so fearless they even attacked children in the presence of two adults.

http://ktla.com/2015/07/08/rash-of-coyote-attacks-on-children-in-irvine-prompts-safety-warning/

An increase in the number of coyote incidents in one Orange County community this summer prompted Fish and Wildlife officials to issue a warning Wednesday urging residents to be particularly vigilant in watching their children and pets when outdoors.

In the past six weeks, there have been four incidents in Irvine where young children were either bitten or scratched by a coyote, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In each case, the contact resulted in only minor injuries.

The first case this season occurred over the Memorial Day weekend in Silverado Park, said department spokeswoman Janice Mackey.

A 2-year-old girl was walking with her parents near the intersection of Equinox and Silverado when she was bitten on the back of the neck, according to the Irvine Police Department.

[leftyladyfrommo]

19. Ask sheep farmers which is worse

Wolves or coyotes and they will say coyotes every time. They kill way more stock than wolves.

A pack of coyotes will kill dogs by having one pack member go out and act really flirty. When the dog approaches the rest of the pack will jump it and kill it.

Course those little fluffy dogs just look like dinner to them.

They are just being coyotes but they can be dangerous.

[PeaceNikki]

21. My friend is an alpaca farmer, coyotes have gotten some of their chickens.

The farmers who sheer for them says they should get a llama. They swear llamas are wonderful guards against coyotes. Who knew??

[kaiden]

27. We had three llamas to protect our goats and chickens.

Llamas can stomp to death coyotes or stray dogs and our male llama ran off a bear that had gotten into the barnyard. The fight was so ferocious, it tore down all the fencing. The llama was fine -- although a bit full of himself and pretty much insufferable from that day on -- and the bear never came back.

[PeaceNikki]

31. That's crazy! The farmers I spoke with had similar stories about llamas protecting against coyotes

and foxes. But, a BEAR???!!?? I'm glad the llama was OK!! I didn't realize how badass they are until recently.

This made me laugh: "although a bit full of himself and pretty much insufferable from that day on".

I don't know any llamas personally, but the alpacas sure have their own personalities!!!

[kaiden]

32. My llamas went to live on a 70 acre alpaca ranch in Western Colorado.

Just recently as we are moving to upstate central New York in two weeks. The couple who adopted them were excited to have such an esteemed, seasoned fellow watch over their herd. My female llama likes Triscuits and Cabernet Savignon, so I hope she can join happy hour with the nice couple.

[PeaceNikki]

33. Awww, I hope they are happy and good luck with your move!!

[kaiden]

34. Thanks! It will be totally different.

[leftyladyfrommo]

37. Donkeys are good, too.

They will protect their herd.

[PeaceNikki]

20. This happened in the neighborhood I grew up in and a friend heard the screams yesterday AM.

Just awful.

[HereSince1628]

22. Yes, and a coyote attack in 'tosa on a pet is about as common as snow in Miami

[PeaceNikki]

23. I know, it's crazy. I'd expect it more out here in Lake Country, but Tosa is right outside the city.

Underwood Parkway is a good habitat for them though, o guess.

So sad for the pet owners and the neighborhood. And even the coyotes.

[PeaceNikki]

24. The dachshund had just been taken off leash.

http://www.wauwatosanow.com/news/wauwatosa-womans-dog-is-dead-following-coyote-attack-b99574314z1-326413001.html?lc=Smart

Wauwatosa police are investigating an incident that left a Dachshund dead in the early morning hours of Thursday, Sept. 10.

Around 6:40 a.m., a woman was jogging along Underwood Parkway in Wauwatosa when her dog was attacked by a coyote. The dog had just been taken off a leash, according to police.

"She said, 'Come on, let's go,'" said Lt. Brian Zalewski of the department. The woman and the dog began to run side-by-side.

At some point, a coyote emerged from the woods.

"Seconds later, she heard the dog screech or cry out," he said. "A coyote had bit the dog and had it in its mouth."

Keep your dogs on leash, especially while this is happening in the neighborhood!!

[Paladin]

26. Take care of your pets, because there's no way to "destroy" coyotes.

The wild dogs are numerous and adaptable to all sorts of different environments. Coyotes will still be wandering the planet, long after humans have disappeared.

[HereSince1628]

30. Yes that's true. It's not my interest to really see the folly of it.

My lament is that in this largely conservative suburb it's gonna be a more or less pointless battle with coyotes.

Coyotes are very common in WI. As anyone birding in 'tosa knows, if you look you can see a handful of them any early morning before people get active.

There is really no natural control on them until they overwhelm carrying capacity. Because of the way green space is constructed here, there are multiple corridors that facilitate coyotes moving in from other areas so any coyotes removed will quickly be replaced.

[Paladin]

40. We lived in suburban Denver with a small dog for several years.

The "watch out for coyotes" warning was a part of every single visit to the veterinarian's office we ever made. That, and rumors of an active mountain lion's den somewhere on a nearby golf course.

[ileus]

29. Coyotes kill everything that moves around here....hunters can't kill enough of them.

to save the deer population.


Too smart and really hard to hunt.

I don't intentionally hunt them but I know folks that do and if they can take 2 or 3 a year it's considered pretty successful around here.

[2naSalit]

36. But very counterproductive

since it would appear that the more coyotes you kill, the more you end up with, or so it appears out here in the Rockies.

Here's some interesting info (a study) about urban coyotes in the Great Lakes area, Chicago... very informative and I think a "must read".

http://www.predatordefense.org/docs/coyotes_report_Urban_Mgmt_2006.pdf


On Edit: One of many studies about population increase:

http://agrilife.org/texnatwildlife/coyotes/table-of-contents/the-effects-of-control-on-coyote-populations/

[Eleanors38]

39. Well, when wolves spread into your area, they will go after 'yotes.

Wolves seem to have no problem expanding their range, despite all the wildlife organization membership drives which warn of their extermination by allowing hunting. Hell they were first extirpated not by hunting, but by trapping and poisoning. So, welcome home wolves! Now, look at that coyote over there, and not at me.

[HereSince1628]

41. No wolves back in SE WI. One possible attack on livestock well north of Madison

We've had coyotes in abundance, even in the suburbs, for a long time.

What we haven't had is coyotes that are comfortable up close to people. This changed a bit a few years ago as a 3-legged coyote became something of a neighborhood mascot, and people left with food out for it. Not the smartest move, but it happened

[Eleanors38]

49. I live within a mile of the high rises of Austin (pop. 912k) on a street

where lots (sans houses) go for $550k. Don't leave your cats out at night.

[Initech]

42. Coyotes are a major problem where I live.

My mom was walking my dog the other day and stared a coyote in the face. It looked malnourished and weak because of overbuilding and overpopulation. But that's pretty scary to come that close to one and survive it, to say the least.

[HereSince1628]

43. Just wondering where you are

[Initech]

46. Southern California

I live in an area that was hit hard by horrendous fires a few years back. It burned most of the rubbish that in turn killed most of the small critters that used to inhabit my neighborhood like rabbits and squirrels. Which is why the coyotes look malnourished.

[HereSince1628]

47. Thanks... I wondered if you were in WI.

Coyotes seem to do very well around people. Small critters that are their primary food abound everywhere there's grass and trees.

[Initech]

48. I live in an area that used to have a lot of grass and trees.

Not anymore though, even though it's been nearly 7 years since the fires happened, a lot of the plant life has yet to recover, and it may take a long long time before it does.

[LWolf]

44. Coyotes love dogs and cats.

They'll haunt fenced yards, trying to lure them out (in the case of dogs) or simply wait (for cats.)

While I've lived most of the last few decades rurally, surrounded by coyotes, I have also lived in towns that coyotes spent much time in. In one small city (pop 100k), it was common to see them sitting in an empty lot on a main road, watching traffic go by.

I don't think we're going to eradicate coyotes. They, along with the cockroaches, will have survived when we've destroyed ourselves and most other living things.

Unlike the cockroaches, I wouldn't want to destroy them. I keep my cats inside, and, when I had a dog, fences in good repair.

They sing regularly where I'm currently living. Throughout the night, in the summer, their songs wake me, since I have all the doors and windows with screens open to cool the place down. When my dog was still with me, she would bark back at them, destroying all chance at sleep. Alone, it's familiar and like a lullaby, sending me drifting off again.

[HereSince1628]

45. I've spent much of my adult life in rural areas and villages/hamlets

everywhere I've been coyotes are pretty common.

But in almost all places I've been, if a human steps out from cover near a coyote or even comes to a glass door, the coyotes get skiddish and more often than not skee-daddle

Being in town, birding in around the house isn't great, so I've spent a lot of time out at dawn and it's common to see coyotes, especially in parks...at least before people start moving around a lot.

Three attacks on pets in the same neighborhood here is very unusual us.

Certainly something much more real the lion sightings over the summer