This is the real risk, and we won't dress it up. Cats and small dogs left in the yard — especially at dawn, dusk, or overnight — are exactly what a bold coyote will go after. If you're in a neighborhood backing onto a preserve, greenbelt, or golf course, that pressure is real and worth taking seriously.
A coyote sees a small, unsupervised pet the way it sees any small prey. It's nothing personal about your yard; it's opportunity.
What you can do starting today
The good news is you can drop the risk a lot without waiting for anyone to come out.
- Don't leave cats or small dogs outside unsupervised at dawn, dusk, or overnight
- Walk small dogs on a short leash and stay with them
- Bring pet food and water bowls indoors, especially at night
- Clear fallen fruit and secure trash so coyotes have no reason to linger
How we build on that
The whole point of our work is protecting those pets. When we come out, we build a pet-safety plan around your specific yard on top of those basics — reading the coyote's likely travel path, the cover around the property, and where the risk concentrates.
Larger dogs are less of a target but still shouldn't be left to tangle with a coyote, so the plan accounts for your specific animals rather than a one-size answer.
Common questions
Which pets are most at risk?
Cats and small dogs left out unsupervised, especially at dawn, dusk, and overnight. Larger dogs are less of a target but still shouldn't be left to tangle with a coyote.
Can I let my small dog out alone if I've seen coyotes?
We'd advise against it at dawn, dusk, or night. Supervise them, keep small dogs leashed, and bring food bowls in — those steps alone cut the risk sharply.
Is a fence enough to keep pets safe?
A fence helps but isn't foolproof — coyotes can climb or jump lower fences and dig under. The reliable protection is supervision at the high-risk hours plus removing the food that draws coyotes close in the first place.
