Daytime Coyote Sightings in Danbury, Keep An Eye On Your Small Pets

It's cold, and they are hungry, and they are out there looking for prey. Monday night, I heard the howls, then, early Tuesday morning, neighbors spotted at least one coyote on the prowl.

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This is not the first time a coyote has been spotted in the Stadley Rough, Great Plain area of Danbury. About a week ago, two coyotes were spotted traveling together through the neighborhood, and since many of the people in the area have small pets, it's become a neighborhood concern.

Is it unusual to see coyotes in the Danbury, CT area?

According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the answer would be no.

The coyotes we see here in Connecticut are called Eastern Coyotes and were first spotted in the state in the 1950s. Over the years, the packs of coyotes have grown, and now they can be spotted in just about any part of the state.

Why are we seeing coyotes in these populated Connecticut neighborhoods?

Food sources are the number one reason we see these animals in and around our neighborhoods. Their diets consist mainly of mice, woodchucks, squirrels, rabbits, turkeys, deer, some plant fruits, and your garbage. They will also attack small pets, and poultry, and reports of them killing a pet outside in a yard is not out of the ordinary.

Many pet owners are not aware of coyotes being in a specific area and let their pets roam in their yard only to have a confrontation resulting in an attack that causes serious injury or even death to their pet.

When do coyote sightings typically happen in Connecticut?

These attacks mostly occur in the early morning or later in the evening, so if you have a small pet, then your best course of action is to accompany that pet outside or walk your pet on a leash, and, of course, always be aware of the danger.

What should I do if I come in contact with a coyote?

Animal experts all say that if you are confronted by a coyote, especially during the daytime, when they are more likely to attack a human, you should yell, wave your arms, and if possible, throw something at the coyote, never run away.

Just keep in mind that coyotes are generally wary of humans, so it shouldn't take much to drive them out of your yard, however they are much more dangerous when they are in a pack, and are more likely to attack you, your pet, even your children. The good news about this is that those particular coyote/human encounters are rare.

If you do spot a coyote in the area, or your having issues with them in your yard, you should contact the DEEP Wildlife Division in Connecticut at 860-424-3011, or you can contact the Danbury Animal Control on Plumtrees Road at (203) 748-6456.