Beware the Coyotes

Here's a link to Jamie Hall's Pet Blog on the Edmonton Journal web site.

http://communities.canada.com/edmontonjournal/blogs/animalattraction/archive/2009/09/17/beware-the-coyotes.aspx#comments

There have been MANY coyote sightings in Edmonton lately. I myself have seen a number of "well-fed" looking ones when out walking my dog. PLEASE BE VERY AWARE of coyotes. They will not hesitate to grab any smaller dog.

PS: If you do encounter a coyote:

What to do if you encounter a coyote
To prevent coyote attacks on humans, modern wildlife management focuses on ‘aversive conditioning’. This practice tries to change an animal’s behaviour by making every human-coyote encounter unpleasant for the animal. This method only works if we all respond to coyote encounters aggressively.If a coyote does approach, make it feel unwelcome. They should not feel comfortable around us.

Take These Immediate Steps: • Respond to its presence aggressively by making yourself appear large; wave your arms overhead, or shove long objects like a walking stick toward the coyote. • Throw rocks, sticks or other objects to scare it away. • Carry a whistle and blow it to startle the animal. • Carry dog spray in areas highly frequented by coyotes. • Shout in a deep voice and maintain eye contact. • Do not turn away or run. This may trigger a natural predator/prey instinct and might encourage the coyote to chase after you. • If the coyote continues to approach, back away slowly and move toward buildings or human activity.

Good advice.

It's actually kind of funny you mention this (as serious as the issue is) after I read in the Metro newspaper this morning on my way to school that Jessica Simpson's dog she received as a gift from Nick Lachey got packed away by a Coyote.

Somehow she is still determined to find the dog...