Hippy Kai Yay, Coyotes!
Can you describe the difference between a dog and a coyote? Can you really, really, tell the difference between, say, a husky mix and an eastern coyote while you're at the dog park or taking a stroll through the woods? It seems like a simple enough distinction, but I’d wager a guess that most people end up describing the difference as, “...well, I just know it when I see it.” That’s fair! As it turns out the coyotes in New England are pretty closely connected to the contemporary domesticated canine, but are they just as likely to be man’s best friend?
I was walking my friends Sama, Vera, and Misha the other day in Brookline after a light snow on a chilly, dry morning when I noticed a blur of sandy brown fur bolt across the road in my periphery. At the same time a woman ran out from her backyard pointing and yelling, and I heard the soft splash of furry paws on wet pavement. Now, it’s important to know that as a dog walker you develop the preternatural instinct to dash after every dog that has escaped the confines of its leash. You don’t really think about it - you just know that with your waist mounted bag of dog treats, backpack full of spare leashes, and carried by the confidence only found in a person coated in the scent and hair of the best dogs in Boston that you are the most qualified person to catch a run away dog. But as I spun to face the runaway, making all the ridiculous mental calculations necessary to catch a leash-free dog with three very leashed dogs attached to me, a thought jumped into my head that I’ve never had before - “Wait, is that even a dog?”
Misha, Vera, and Sama enjoying life on the sun-warmed sidewalks of Brookline Village.
It was most definitely not a dog. The light brown, fuzzy tailed, german shepherd sized dog imposter was in fact a coyote. And that lady pointing and yelling had not lost the handle of her dog’s leash, but was alerting everyone in the neighborhood to the presence of this doggy doppelganger.
It was gone as fast as it came, but it left me with so many questions. The first of which was, so what IS the difference between a dog and a coyote? More importantly, I wanted to know why it was in Brookline, and what we can do to keep ourselves and our dogs safe should we have a close encounter with a coyote? Let’s explore that!
What are the differences between a dog and a coyote?
As it turns out, dogs and coyotes are members of the canis genus. That explains their many physical similarities from their coats to their ears, muzzles, and paws. However, much like wolves, coyotes are lacking one major feature that makes them dogs - domestication. Canine domestication by humans has irrevocably fractured the genetic path coyotes and dogs once shared centuries ago. Everything from a dog's dietary needs, size, the desire to have a working purpose, and lifespan have been altered by human intervention. As a result you have two distinct animals - one that lives in the wild, procures its own food, surviving adverse climate conditions, and reproducing freely and another that carries an unhealthy obsession with tennis balls and cries next to its food bowl at 5:01pm. But, if you’re reading this then you already know everything you need to know about dogs, so let’s focus on learning more about their canis cousin, the coyote.
Have coyotes always been in Boston?
Yes and no. Yes, as long as most of us have been living in Boston we have had coyotes in the commonwealth. However, this was not always the case. The first coyotes sighting in New England date back to the 1920’s but Massachusetts first contact with coyotes occurred in Berkshire County in 1957. In fact, New England tends to see a specific type of coyote known as the eastern coyote which are 20 to 30 percent larger than the western coyote and believed to be a cross between a coyote and wolf, as reported by the Massachusetts Audubon Society.
Why are coyotes here?
These eastern coyotes migrated to New England as western expansion displaced them. As coyotes became more desperate for food they migrated from the western United States, through the Great Lakes region into the New England states, growing larger as they moved east. It is conjectured that breeding with Red Wolves in the upper Great Lake Regions created the larger, more winter resistant coyote that we now see in Massachusetts. By extension, as the once forest filled landscapes outside of Boston gave way to new development, coyotes were pushed into urban and suburban areas seeking food and shelter from the elements.
So why does it feel like they are everywhere in Boston all the sudden?
Susan McCarthy from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife tells All Things Considered, “...over the past 10 years, the coyote population in Massachusetts has stabilized. Coyotes are existing at very high densities and they're in all available habitats throughout the commonwealth of Massachusetts. We wouldn't say that the coyote population is growing. …we know that's not true. That's not the case.”
McCarthy continues, “But what we do know is that coyotes are utilizing suburban and even urban environments very heavily, very commonly. And in doing so, they have lots of day-to-day interactions with people. And people, of course, nowadays always have a phone at the ready to take pictures and videos and document their experiences, and share those experiences regularly.”
Should we be afraid for our dogs' safety?
On All Things Considered McCarthy continues, “The reality is that coyotes, while they're not usually a threat to people, are unquestionably a threat to our domestic pets, particularly when we leave our pets unsupervised outdoors.” Leading up to and through the winter season requires extra vigilance from pet owners, explains Jennifer Condon on Boston.com, “Right now, they’re packing weight on and getting ready for winter.” Several incidents involving coyote attacks involve dogs under 15 pounds in size. Breeds like Pomeranians, Pugs, small terriers, and Chiwawas can be targeted by coyotes due to their size, but there are a number of simple and sensible tactics that can be employed to keep your pup safe.
What steps can be taken to assure safety?
While coyotes are local predators, they are not looking for a fight. Coyotes typically only forage into new spaces to find food. If coyotes are unable to secure food in your yard, neighborhood, or community they are likely to abandon it as a habitat. The Massachusetts Audubon Society has created a great compendium on coyote behavior and lists a few pieces of advice:
Don't leave pet food outdoors. If you must feed pets outdoors, provide only the amount your pet will consume in one feeding.
Secure your garbage. Coyotes are capable of knocking over trash cans and tearing open trash bags left in the open.
Pick up fallen fruit. Fruit that has fallen to the ground and left to rot can be appealing to wildlife, including coyotes.
Don't feed coyotes. Feeding can draw them closer to homes and cause them to become less wary of humans.
Keep pets indoors. A roaming cat or small dog can be perceived as prey by coyotes. There have been rare cases of an unattended small dog being taken by a coyote.
What to do if I see a coyote?
Thankfully the City of Boston has a handy website with some great information on what to do in the case of a coyote sighting. From boston.gov:
“If you see a coyote, the BEST thing you can do is haze him! You can do this by:
making a lot of noise
waiving your arms around, and
scaring him off. (Remember to never corner a coyote or approach one if it appears sick or injured!)
While coyotes may appear comfortable in backyards and streets, they tend to avoid contact with people. Hazing helps reinforce that natural fear.”
Outside of these helpful tips the same webpage also offers tips on removing possums under your porch, how to avoid skunks, and how to defend yourself from turkeys with gems like, “Be bold. Don't let them intimidate you.” Only in Boston!
The takeaway from all the noise around the recent uptick in coyote sightings is that they mean little harm to humans but can be deadly towards unwatched, smaller breed dogs and cats. And while it can be jarring to see one in your community, with a bit of preparation and diligence they are unlikely to affect you or your pet.
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