I am so glad my dogs come when called.

I had them out for a late night pee the other evening and came face to face with a coyote, although I didn't know that's what it was at first. I thought it was a dog at the tree line. I stay out with them always, and I saw Ollie stiffen even in the dark. Of course, Bru started barking and acting like an idiot. We call the dogs and they come to us. My husband gets Bru inside, cause even though he came when called, he was all riled up. Ollie came too, but was standing on the patio growling real low. I look up and the darn thing followed us almost right up to the house! Hubby stomped and scared it off but he wasn't in a hurry.

So, I've been googling and reading up on coyotes. I didn't even know we HAD coyotes in WV, and I thought they were little fox-like creatures. This sucker was huge! I also thought they didn't come around people and weren't much of a danger. Now I'm back to draglines on the dogs after dark and worried to death that this thing is so brave. Turns out my neighbors have seen one too in the last couple weeks. I sure don't want to kill it, but I don't like it getting curious about my dogs either.

Has anyone here ever dealt with coyotes coming up on their dogs? Do you think it's likely to stick around or do they just pass through? I can't find decent information on their habits except that they're unpredictable.

It will stay around if there is food. Call your wildlife people from the state and see if they will trap it and move it to a park.

WV is not their natural habitat, there are more and more of them now in the east all the way to Va Beach. They have increased in size to adapt to what was once all wolf habitat. Check and make sure it wasn't a red wolf (I have no idea if there's any in WV).

Ditto on trapping it though.

I'm pretty sure it was a coyote. I looked at pictures thinking there was no way a coyote is that big, but I read that wolves are not in my area and haven't been for a long time. Plus, coyotes are creepy looking. Once I started looking at pictures I was positive.

I sent an email to a professional trapper in my area. I can't seem to find any wildlife agency or anything that does it.

Coyotes get bigger as you move more to the East Coast, in my old apartment complex the alpha male was about 60lbs.

I would't worry.....a large pack of coyotes is a problem, a small pack will learn quickly where it isn't worth going and I'd be more concerned about outdoor cats then you dogs or if you have livestock (but if you do and there are no death in the area DO NOT kill the coyotes, ones that do not kill livestock often teach their pups not to, kill the wrong yote and you could start the killing). Coyotes can be ballsy but they're looking for easy prey, a small pack isn't going to bug a dog unless there's really a food shortage (and even then..they'll look for the chihuahuas and tiny dogs first).

We have a pack that's new to our propery, my housemate (who does a lot of tracking) says three. I had once incident where "something" tried to come after Ryuk but he nailed it hard and the way it came out I'm going to guess it was't attackng but more trying to scare him up to figure out what he was. They now give the area the dogs mark off regularly some space, their tracks start outside of the yard area now.

I deal with coyotes almost daily. I usually see them checking me out while hiking with my pups, or when we let the sheep out.

We go through years where they keep their distance, then for a couple years they will be fearless. When I was in high school the ranchers would pay us to take out the coyotes harassing the stock. Chances are (if DOW in WV is anything like ours)they wont trap them and move them...

Last couple of years they have been very bold. One attacked two ACD's at the ranch, during the day, with people all around, and the dogs on leash next to the owner. He would also hop the fence into the arena when someone is actually out there working sheep with their dog, and go after the sheep. Everytime we let the sheep out, I would post up and wait with my .223. He came out once at about 450 yards away, but I hesitated because I thought it was a German Shepherd. HUGE. Couple days later I saw him on the side of the road, dead. I'd guess around 70lbs, and had a very unique color to him.

A couple days ago, one hung out with me for about 5 minutes. I was just finishing up some pistol shooting and he came within 20' of me and just calmly hung out. Normally I would have another coyote pelt to give to the Washoe tribe here, but we just kicked it.

I disagree, Jamie.

I've known them to kill larger dogs, solo(not packed up), for virtually no reason. Maybe if you wanted to get technical, I guess there is always a reason. Maybe they saw the dog as food competition.

Don't know, don't care. They aren't welcome near me.

During the summer time, I usually sleep with the door in my room leading to my backyard open, screen closed, and listen to them sing. Occasionally, I'll be laying in bed, door open, then all of a sudden my dogs will fly off their beds freaking out at the door, and my backyard will erupt with coyotes.

Oh yeah, a friend of mine in NM called me a few months ago asking for advice on coyotes because apparently coyotes dug under his fence, and killed all 5 of his GSD's. There were 3 dead coyotes in his yard, and his shepherds were all torn up, but not eaten. Sad.

Plenty here in So Cal and they don't seem to be shy.
My GF's brothers Jack Russell was almost a coyotes meal, it came up on there back porch and had the JR in his mouth but dropped it when Matt came out screaming and stomping.
The JR had a trip to the vet to get stitched up but is OK.

 Quote: Michael_Wise

I disagree, Jamie.

I've known them to kill larger dogs, solo(not packed up), for virtually no reason. Maybe if you wanted to get technical, I guess there is always a reason. Maybe they saw the dog as food competition.

Don't know, don't care. They aren't welcome near me.

One of my friends is borrowing my 30-30 right now because his two Vizlas were jumped by two young coyotes. They can, and do, take on larger "prey"