A colleague sent us this video featuring a University of Minnesota researcher documenting the relationship between foxes and coyotes in the Twin Cities seven-county metro area. Informative, it explains the challenges of fox-coyote relationships which push foxes closer to our backyards.
The intersection of wildlife and our domestic animals is worth more attention and specifically, pet owner education. Foxes enjoy a growing supply of backyard poultry while coyotes would not hesitate to kill a cat for the same reasons they kill foxes. Raccoons are insidious rascals with a penchant for investigating our homes, garages, coops and outbuildings while leaving indiscrete fecal latrines attractive to pets and other wildlife.
Source: Prairie Sportsman, YouTube, August 13, 2023. Link. (11:14)
Also see: Backyard visitors spell RISK for pets, people, AHD Archives. Link.
Because wild animals can carry diseases without appearing to be sick, it is important to enjoy wildlife from a distance. Close contact with wildlife, their urine or droppings can spread diseases to people and pets.” – CDC
