According to Bedford Animal Services, a woman reported that a coyote attacked her small dog near Bedford Road, south of S.H. 183.
Bedford Animal Services also reported another incident where a coyote attacked a resident walking their dog close to the area where the woman’s pet was attacked.
Coyotes are in their breeding season, thus raising the potential for encounters with humans.
Following the two reported attacks, Bedford Animal Services released a list of safety precautions that residents should follow to avoid dangerous encounters with coyotes:
- Never feed wildlife intentionally.
- Do not feed wildlife accidentally. Bedford Animal Services said coyotes are “opportunistic omnivores” and will undoubtedly take advantage of any potential source of food they find. Because coyotes feed on rodents, residents are urged to keep their surroundings free of anything that will attract rodents. Keeping garbage secure is one way to keep rodents away.
- Residents are also urged to keep their pets in their sight at all times and never to allow them to roam freely.
- Pet owners are also advised to put their pets on a leash and accompany them outside at night.
- Residents are also urged not to panic when they see a coyote. Bedford Animal Services said the sight of a coyote acting non-aggressively and appropriately does not require a response.
- Residents are also urged to make a coyote feel unwelcome if it frequents their neighborhood. Bedford Animal Services said showing coyotes signs of aggression could re-establish their fear of humans. Vehicle horns, whistles, and portable air horns can effectively achieve this aim.
Bedford Animal Services revealed that the above methods have been successful in residential areas where coyotes and bobcats have been sighted.
