Local paper just did an article on coyotes eating pets, attacking humans, and how to deal w/ them etc. The biggest problem is people feeding them so they lose their fear of humans. Among suggestions were getting rid of fruit trees that attract the small mammals they feed on, getting rid of any trash/food that attracts them, and using fencing to protect smaller pets in your yard.
Gotta love a journalist who uses "Wily coyotes" to start a story off! :rofl:
Rolling On the Floor Laughing
I was checking out a coyote that had just been hit by a vehicle near Peach Creek the other day. I figure he went 65 lbs. He had large, healthy canines. Is that real big for a coyote, 65 lbs?
They definitely find house cats tasty. In my neck of the woods, sandestin has been trapping coyotes for the last year or so due to some sort of outbreak. It's common to see them crossing 98 from the state forest at night. Interestingly enough, while a large number of domesticated cats around here have gone missing over the last year (including my own) the local feral cats seem to be quite adept at staying out of their way.
Feral cats only survive by constantly being on their guard. House cats will typically be less sensitive due to domestication. I always worry about people who declaw their cats. Hopefully the leave at least the hind claws to give them a running shot up a tree and out of harms way if they are going to let their cat outside.
The outbreak you speak of is likely mange.