FEATURE
Beyond Fear
Rethinking the challenges of the dog-coyote relationship
By Angie Fonseca, CPDT-KA, UWAAB, FFCP
Before your alarm has a chance to wake you, your best friend plants a wet one on your cheek. Warm puffs of breath and the insistent nudge of a damp nose leave no room for debate; you rise from the cozy embrace of your covers to start the day – by making your dog’ s day. You throw on sweats and grab the shoes that signal it is finally time for The Walk. You wouldn’ t think of denying your dog this treasured ritual. But this morning, you hesitate to step outside into the cool dawn. Yesterday, your neighbor told you they saw a coyote in the neighborhood who“ was huge and didn’ t act afraid of anything.” You know coyotes are around. Yet, you suddenly feel unprepared, realizing you don’ t know what steps to take if you and your dog cross paths with a coyote, let alone what to do if one approaches you. But your pup’ s expectant eyes are persuading you to walk, and you just hope today isn’ t the day you need to know what to do.
It ' s a familiar scenario, whether you’ ve lived it yourself or your clients have. Pet parents are often fearful after hearing stories on the news, social media, or from neighbors about coyotes harming beloved pets. Despite the emotional challenges associated with coyote encounters, understanding the causes and mechanisms behind these interactions is crucial for developing coexistence strategies that ensure the safety of both pets and coyotes.
Although coyote attacks on humans are rare, a persistent fear exists, rooted in historical and social values that have been passed down. These negative views may have been fueled by the late 19th-century U. S. federal government initiative to eliminate predators in North America, which included a campaign against coyotes. With a serious misunderstanding of their ecological importance, millions of large carnivores were killed, and wolves were successfully exterminated as a result of this program. Coyotes found an opportunity in the absence of wolves, leading to a substantial expansion of their territory.
Today, coyotes share every corner of North America with us, and many people, especially those with pets, have had firsthand experiences with them. Even in the most densely populated cities, coyotes are present, and their role as top predators promotes a
10 Better Training Through Education Photos with permission and courtesy of Janet Kessler, coyoteyipps. com