Late February to early March is peak coyote mating season and at least one local wildlife expert suggests keeping cats indoors and dogs on leashes or in well-fenced areas.
Lynn Cuny, founder and President of the 45-year-old Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR) in Kendalia, said coyotes are becoming a common sight in many areas that until recently were intact wildlife habitat.
“Coyotes who have been forced into human-populated areas become less fearful of people as they grow accustomed to seeing them every day,” she said. “It is because of this familiarity that coyotes will venture into yards, parking lots and entire subdivisions.”
Coyotes are not naturally aggressive but during mating and baby season can become more territorial.
As their habitats are destroyed, the animals also lose their natural prey base.
“Though it is relatively new behavior on their part, there have been occasions when coyotes turned to very small dogs or cats as their prey,” Cuny said. “To protect your companion animals, it is best to keep cats indoors, this also mitigates their preying on birds, snakes, lizards and other vulnerable wildlife.”
Wildlife Rescue receives approximately 10,000 native wild animals every year. Trained volunteers care for opossums, raccoons, bobcats, coyotes, skunks, squirrels, and many other mammals along with over 100 species of birds and some reptiles.
Cuny said many of these creatures have been orphaned, injured, or displaced.
WRR treats most animals during spring and summer month “baby season,” but also performs rescues throughout the year.
For more information or to make a donation visit https://wildlife-rescue.org/.
(Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on our site in February 2023.)
