Coyote Sightings Prompts Warning To Pet Owners

BRANFORD, CT — All winter long, people have been posting photos and videos taken by home security and doorbell cameras of coyotes, sometimes small packs, in yards and neighborhoods and posted them to social media.

Now, the Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter has alerted folks that it, and police, have been getting a number of calls about coyotes all over town, and while says that since coyotes "live among us," it's mating season for the wild canine and they are out and about looking for mates, and hunting food. And though it's usually squirrels and rabbits on the menu, coyotes do not have the most discriminating pallets and have no compunction about picking off your pets; namely cats and dogs.

"This means that dogs and cats should not be left outside alone. Dogs should not be left in fenced in areas alone. Dogs should not be left outside alone in an electric fenced in area. Coyotes will jump over even high fences , so please alert your neighbors that they should not feel overly comfortable just because they have a fenced in yard," the shelter posted on its Facebook page.

"Little dogs and cats get taken by predators more than people realize ( and not just by coyotes) and the public should be diligent and responsible in taking measures to protect their animals," it was noted.