Coyotes are a lot like bears; if you feed them, they’ll stick around. Once they discover the benefits of hanging close to a house or neighborhood, they’ll quickly let their guard down as they take advantage of the abundant food sources that come close to humans.
Once they do, they typically become less and less concerned with any threat that may come from hunting around the house. That’s when we see an encounter with a coyote close to home or in the yard.
Such was the case when a coyote attacked a 3 year-old toddler over the holidays in Michigan.
The girl was attacked by a coyote after arriving at her grandparent’s home for a visit. She was walking from her parent’s vehicle toward the house when the incident occurred.
“Coyote attacks on pets or livestock in Alcona County are rare, but they do occur occasionally,” said Sheriff Scott Stephenson. “This is the only report of a child being attacked in Alcona County that I can remember.”
Are these coyote attacks on small children becoming more and more common across the country? Just last month a 4-year-old girl was attacked by a coyote in Colorado.
Again, as coyotes learn to survive and thrive by finding more and more food sources close to homes and neighborhoods, it’s only likely that we’ll continue to see these incidents take place as coyotes continue to lose their fear of humans, particularly small children.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources provides the following information on coyote encounters:
• For your safety, NEVER intentionally feed or try to tame coyotes. It is critical that they retain their natural fear of people.
• Eliminate outside food sources. Garbage or pet food left out may draw their attention.
• Coyotes may also take advantage of the small mammals and birds that bird feeders and gardens often attract.
• Clear out brush piles that provide hiding places for small mammals and birds.
• Keep small pets indoors or accompany them outside and keep them on a leash.
• If you see a coyote in your area, try to scare it off by yelling, clapping or making other loud noises. Most coyotes are naturally afraid of people and will leave if you frighten them.
• Coyotes, like any wild animal, can act unpredictably and should be treated with respect and enjoyed from a distance.
