Are coyotes that much of a problem? (Denver: to rent, house)

[AbbieRose]

Hi. We were considering relocating to the Denver area because it seems to have everything we are looking for. But after reading many posts on this board I have crossed it off the list. We have 3 small dogs that are like our children and I have read a lot of posts about small dogs becoming coyote food. We are always with them in the yard and like to walk them but I have read that some coyotes are bold and still will snatch them in front of people. Is it really that bad? Our other option is Kansas City and I have found very little stories of attacks there, so I am now leaning more towards there.

[davebarnes]

Don't worry about your dogs.
Worry about your tasty small children.
The fire in Colorado will drive the wild creatures into the cities where they will feast upon those youngsters that have not been rescued by the Pied Piper.

[gooberlx]

Such stories are exceedingly rare. I hear coyotes in the nearby field nearly every night, but haven't heard one story of someone's dog being snatched. In fact, there's an irritating stray cat that insists on howling on my block at the least convenient times of night that I sometimes wish they would take. S/he's been around here as long as we have.

[davidv]

It is highly unlikely a coyote will attack a pet with you around. A child is also safe. Small dogs left outside at night might be susceptible to attack, but mostly the coyotes will prey on cats that wander around the neighborhood.

It is important that if you see a coyote in your neighborhood that you haze the (make loud noises, throw something at them -- not food, etc.) so they know they are not welcome around your home.

[RedSoxFanGoingWest]

You read "many" posts on here about dogs being attacked by coyotes in Denver? Many? Really?

[mic111]

Small dogs in our neighborhood need to be escorted at all times in the outdoors. Med. dogs are at risk and sometimes large dogs are targeted if they are old, overweight or injured looking. Sometimes a large bird will try to get a small dog (you can tell by the claw marks instead of bites). When we had foxes they took the small dogs also. One fox used to follow my 50 lb lab/pit mix when we walked her around the neighborhood. He would visit her at the fence also. She was fixed so we didn't know why. Two neighbors small dogs were eaten by a fox. My husband walking our 50 lb Husky/Brittney Spaniel mix has been followed by a coyote. A neighbor who had an elderly small dog was also stalked on her walks. Small children can be at risk also, even with adults nearby. I think maybe at least 5 small dogs I know of were eaten in our neighborhood. One small dog got away by running through the dog door, one medium dog held off the coyote long enough for the owner to beat it off with a bat, one large dog was pulled in when the coyotes were eying her. When I let my dogs out at night I listen for snarls. If I hear them I run out to help scare the coyotes off. Doesn't happen often since we have multiple dogs they aren't in our yard much but if our dogs killed a bunny and I don't find it first the coyotes have been known to come in the yard for the food. They are often just beyond the fence. We have a high powered flashlight so we can see their glowing beady eyes. I encourage my dogs to go out together to help protect each other.

But we are not in the inner city. And when we lived in the southern suburbs I never saw a coyote, only raccoons on my roof at night. So it depends on where you live. Although the bears do seem to come down into the neighborhoods pretty far. That always surprises me.

On the other hand we have had multiple small dogs live out their full lives. Their owners are vigilant and don't just let them out in the backyard unescorted.

Oh, yeah, the coyotes are bold. They don't really care that much about us. We don't scare them. That does kind of bug me.

[Mezter]

My parents live in the far eastern suburbs (Where there is practicly a "Beware of Coyotes" sign everywhere) and they usually don't do much. Walking to school in the morning i would always see them, but they just ran in fear.

I've never had a problem, but keep you little ones/Pets close by just in case. If your living closer to the city, then you should have no problem.

[Dorthy]

If you escort your pets in and out your chances of them becoming coyote food are slim to none. If you leave your pets in your yard alone during the day there is a chance they would be taken. If you leave them alone in the yard from dusk till dawn there's a very good chance they could be taken.

I've seen coyotes in several Denver neighborhoods. Some of those sightings were in the middle of the day, others were very early morning or late in the evening. Urban areas are not immune from coyotes.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Dorthy is right.
I lived right smack in central Denver (just a few blocks from the Cherry Creek Mall) for many years.
I regularly saw hawks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes, sometimes all during the same dog walk. I never knew anyone who lost a dog or cat, but I did have a neighbor whose outdoor bunny came to a sad end. What a way to go, being killed in your cage.
I've posted here before about the coyote who used to follow me and my large dog, and how early one morning I saw her eating pizza (for some reason I always thought of her as a she). I think many of the foxes and coyotes slept in the Denver Country Club or Cheesman Park by day, then went out looking for meals at night. Denver has a lot of spacious green spaces for critters to hunker down.

[gmm_24]

Coyotes are the least of your worries....
The first would be obtaining a job/jobs.
The second would be finding a reasonable place to rent with 3 dogs.
If you have never been here a visit would be best especially if you are coming from a coastal area.

I live in the country and coyotes are scared of people. One was trapped between me and a horse and after considering the danger he chose to run away from me and toward the horse. I see them traveling in the daytime, one up to a pack of four and hear them every night. The only things I have lost are white chickens and ducks during the daytime especially when it is foggy, they stand out more and are easy pickings.
They do not respect farm fences but they do fear my two large working guardian dogs. Without them I would have lost quite a bit of livestock. They have never gone after my house dogs, they have once gotten hold of a neighbor's small dog but she yelled at them and they dropped him.

I would not be scared of coyotes in the city and if I had a 6 foot privacy fence and kept my dogs in at night. Coyotes do attack in the daytime but probably not much in the suburbs/city where lots of cars, people and noise is going on.

Bold ones are habituated to humans or are ill, in general they practice avoidance.