A Timely Warning: Spring – Coyotes – Cats & Dogs

Here in the North West it hasn’t felt much like spring with what seems an endless chill in the air, but it is indeed spring and with it comes the annual abundance of new life. Coyotes, having bred from January to March, are now having pups and their dens will have from 5 to 15 little mouths to feed. Although I advocate for wildlife, I love my pets too. Unfortunately, our cats and small dogs are easy prey for these stealthy, almost invisible hunters that can run up to 65 kms/hr. I have witnessed a neighbor’s cat swiped in broad daylight, in the blink of an eye, from atop a stack of firewood. I’ll never forget the horrible shrieks that woke us at 3:am last spring when one of our cats had became a coyote family’s meal. It was a crushing blow to lose a beloved pet this way. A few evenings ago we watched three deer browsing on our lawn in the twilight. Suddenly they raised their heads, ears pricked forward, alerted to something on the other side of our hedge. Just then we saw our neighbor’s orange tabby sprint by, puffed up and looking like he was being chased. A moment later, almost invisible in the diminishing light, we saw the coyote in full pursuit. Fortunately the cat barely made it to a tree and was able to escape but it took a lot of patient coaxing to get the terrified cat down from the safety of his perch high in the branches. I was recently told about a young woman who watched helplessly as her small dog was attacked and eaten by coyotes. Horrified, she watched, unable to drive them off before it was too late. Coyotes are part of our wild natural landscape and it would be a poorer place without them. Who hasn’t been thrilled by the sound of their wild yips and howls on a moonlit night? But as pet owners, or pet guardians, it is our responsibility to protect our pets from harm. Every spring I see notices for missing cats posted on bulletin boards and telephone poles, obviously put there by people who love their pets. I encourage everyone to keep their kitties indoors, particularly at night and especially at this time of year, even if it does means having to clean a litter box. The same warning extends to small dogs. Never leave a little dog outside by him/herself as small dogs are also at risk of being taken even from a closed yard. By protecting our pets, we help to protect wildlife by preventing these tragic encounters. After all, the wildlife is one of the reasons I enjoy living here.