Your commenters are right and wrong.
Coyotes will kill and eat dogs and cats if given a chance. Unfortunately this is what happens when an amateur meets a professional. And yes, the easier the meal is to acquire, the more likely a hungry coyote will return to the scene of the crime.
On the other hand, rabies is not a problem right now in coyote populations in southern California. Be more afraid of your cat. If you let cats out at night to roam free you’re providing it an opportunity to be exposed to rabid wild life. In addition, cat owners are less likely to make sure their cats have the county required rabies vaccination.
Dog owners should be much more concerned about canine parvovirus and distemper. It isn’t unusual to see large die-offs of coyotes every 15 years or so due to these diseases. Make sure your dog is up to date on her vaccinations.
Regarding attacking children, coyote attacks are extremely rare. But they do happen. (Your neighbor’s dog is more likely to attack your kid than a coyote. And the culprit is more likely to be a cocker spaniel than a pit bull, but then that’s another story.)
We are pleased to have a real Ph.D. canid scientist, Jane Brackman, aka “Dr. Barkman,” on our list of people who give straight answers to our often-stupid questions. She sent us this email:
Coyotes will kill and eat dogs and cats if given a chance. Unfortunately this is what happens when an amateur meets a professional. And yes, the easier the meal is to acquire, the more likely a hungry coyote will return to the scene of the crime.
On the other hand, rabies is not a problem right now in coyote populations in southern California. Be more afraid of your cat. If you let cats out at night to roam free you’re providing it an opportunity to be exposed to rabid wild life. In addition, cat owners are less likely to make sure their cats have the county required rabies vaccination.
Dog owners should be much more concerned about canine parvovirus and distemper. It isn’t unusual to see large die-offs of coyotes every 15 years or so due to these diseases. Make sure your dog is up to date on her vaccinations.
Regarding attacking children, coyote attacks are extremely rare. But they do happen. (Your neighbor’s dog is more likely to attack your kid than a coyote. And the culprit is more likely to be a cocker spaniel than a pit bull, but then that’s another story.)