I was awoken at 3 a.m.by a sound, eerie and immediately recognizable.  Coyotes—not howling, but yipping as if delighted in the capture of prey. 

They sounded as if they were in my backyard.  I did an instinctual head count—2 kids, 2 dogs, a kitty and a rabbit—but still had trouble getting back to sleep.  What had I done moving my family into the woods here?  Bugs the size of their fingers, no coffee shop for miles, nightly mopping to combat the mud…and now coyotes in my backyard.  Perhaps an urban environment would prove a more suitable sanctuary. 

I knew coyotes, bears and likely bobcats lived in the 400 acre preserve that parallels my property here in South Salem—as well as rabbits, foxes, possum, skunk, and all the other mammals typical to the Northeast. I trust this natural interplay will keep the predators fed and away from my fortress in the wood, but still.

Having lived in Westchester county my entire life, I have run into about six coyotes on hikes with my dogs.  My first experience, much like the others, has served as a mental metaphor when situations prove too much for me to bear.  I was 26 years old, out with my spirited Labrador and Husky mix when not 50 yards I saw the shaggy coated-very dog looking coyote startle to the noise of our arrival.

Did he bark, did he dash in fear or attack my dogs, which were themselves not 20 yards from his side?  No. This private creature dropped his head and moved quietly, almost ghost-like, at an angle until he disappeared over the ravine. 

And my dogs—if they noticed him, showed no interest. These dogs who would give chase to anything that moved away or enthusiastically welcome a new dog into their fold. I hold this coyote spirit as an image in my mind and use it to manage the difficult situations and people I have had to endure in my lifetime. 

Yield to potential threats; don’t combat them.  Which is in fact what most coyotes do: avoid people (large dogs and children) who will not run in fear and illicit a predatory reaction—but yell and confront them.  The typical predator would rather reserve his resources for more defenseless prey. 

So how concerned should I be and what can be done to ensure my children aren’t gobbled up by the beastly creatures who play just outside our window?  Here are some facts I discovered.

• As I dog trainer I know the potential threat an under-socialized aggressive dog can pose, and have witnessed the horrible affects of dog bites. It comes as no surprise that in New York State, 650 people are hospitalized and at least one person killed by dogs each year; it’s thus reassuring that there are fewer than 10 reported coyote attacks nationwide.
• It’s the activities of some humans that lure coyotes into our midst. Purposefully feeding them, leaving out garbage, or poorly contained livestock attract coyotes who them become familiar with the sounds and smells of human civilization. Even bird-feeders that are not routinely cleaned attract varmint like mice and rats which then attract the coyotes.  A coyote who depends even loosely on humans for survival will move closer to residential areas and condition the sight, smell and sounds of our lifestyle.
• Coyotes do pose a danger to cats and small dogs.  But so does other wildlife, dogs and even cars.  To prevent disaster keep these pets supervised when outside.

More discoveries on coyotes to share, but out of space.  I’ll pick up this thread next week—but meanwhile do share your concerns and experience living with coyotes in our midst.