News stories about coyotes snatching pets are not unusual these days. It’s no wonder.
Despite widespread management as a pest species, coyotes have expanded their geographic range by an estimated 40 percent since the 1950s, at least twice as much any other North American carnivore during the same time period.
Source: ZooKeys, May 22, 2018. Link. Various interacting factors are thought to have contributed to coyotes’ rapid expansion in North America:
- Extirpation of apex predators likely helped coyotes expand by reducing predation risk and allowing coyotes to expand their niche to larger prey
- Conversion of once-forested landscapes to agricultural landscapes likely facilitated coyote expansion by creating suitable coyote habitat in areas that were previously unsuitable
- Hybridization of coyotes with wolves and domestic dogs introduced new genotypes that may have promoted colonization and survival in eastern habitats
INSIGHTS: Animal health pros must consider rural and urban coyotes as viable threats to both cats and dogs that run free. New pet owners will appreciate being informed about wildlife threats in their specific area.