Protect Your Pets From Coyote Attacks In Lakewood

LAKEWOOD, OH - Coyote fever has been running rampant throughout the city. Multiple sightings and reports of attacks against small pets in Lakewood have poured in since the beginning of 2017. The outpouring of concern prompted the city to release a statement and information from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources on how to handle coyotes.

A Lakewood resident's dog was attacked by a coyote in late February, prompting the panic over animal safety in the neighborhood. Many residents on social media have expressed surprise at the presence of coyotes in a heavily developed suburb like Lakewood.

On March 20, the city said there were at least three alpha pairs of coyotes, and their respective groups, living in different parts of Lakewood. One pair lives in the Madison Park vicinity, another in the South West corner, and a third alpha pair in the Lakewood Park vicinity.

The Lakewood Park pair appear to the culprits behind the sudden activity. The city said on its website that a West Highland white Terrier living near Lakewood Park was chased and bitten by a coyote in February. The attack occurred in a fenced yard. The dog's owners chased the coyotes off by yelling and waving their arms.

Fox 8 News reported the city captured one of the harassing coyotes on March 24. Traps were set for the animal and a local cage maker and nuisance animal trapper caught a male coyote. He said that capturing the male usually meant the female coyote and any cub coyotes would leave the area. Additionally, the animal tested negative for rabies.

In a post on the city website, Kara A. Vlach-Lasher of Lakewood's Animal Safety & Welfare Advisory Board, said that coyotes have coexisted with residents in Lakewood for years without incident.

"Three other small-dog attacks have occurred in [the Lakewood Park] area. These attacks started in late January. The dogs were all small breed dogs; each survived with bite injuries," Vlach-Lasher said. "These recent encounters are the exception, not the rule from Lakewood’s experience."

Protection and Prevention

Coyotes very rarely attack humans, Vlach-Lasher said. In fact, the city's Animal Shelter Supervisor says that there has never been an attack on a human by a coyote in the Lakewood area.

However, attacks on small breed dogs are common. Coyote activity is also greatly increased from January through March because it is mating season for the animals. Dog owners should pay careful attention to their animals during the first quarter of the year.

To prevent attracting coyotes to your residence, here are some simple tips from the city you can follow.

• Don't feed your pets outside. The smell of the food may attract coyotes. Set up your animal's feeding area inside your house, if possible.
• Avoid feeding coyotes. It may seem like common sense, but don't do anything that would give the animals reason to visit your home or community. Even if you don't have pets, your neighbors might. Be considerate.
• If you're composting (and hopefully you are), don't compost meat, dairy, or fish scraps. Whatever you are composting, do so in an enclosed bin. The city says you should periodically clean whatever bin you're using to compost. Also, keep your garbage can lids closed.
• Keep your cats indoors and keep your dogs on leashes when outdoors. Even if you have a fenced in yard, you'll want to keep an eye on your dog, particularly from dusk to dawn. To keep coyotes out, your fence would have to be at least eight feet tall and made of a material that coyotes cannot climb.
• Carry a whistle when walking your dog. If your pet is attacked by a coyote, blow the whistle for help. You can also throw a tennis ball at the animal or squirt a water gun full of vinegar at a coyote to repel it.
• If the coyote attacks while you're at home, use your garden hose to spray the animal or bang pots or pans to create a loud noise.

To get other insight and tips for fending off coyote attacks, click here.

If you or your pet has an encounter with a coyote, please report it to Lakewood Animal Control at 216-529-5020. An encounter would be anything more than a sighting or visual observation.

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