Photo provided by DNR
Animal Containment and Education (ACE), a nonprofit that specializes in the recovery of at-risk dogs, posted the advisory to Facebook on January 5th.
The group said they recently had a case on the north side of Brownsburg where coyotes were showing up on their cameras acting unusually aggressive.
“Typically we see 1-2 coyotes together behaving fine and lost dogs do a great job of navigating around coyotes,” the group posted.
ACE went on to say they recently noticed the coyotes have been “packing up and acting aggressively” around one of their feeding stations west of 267.
They encouraged pet owners in the area to supervise their animals while outside.
“Coyotes can jump fences, and when they run in packs, they can be dangerous to even larger dogs,” the group posted.
According to coyote experts with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources coyotes are on the move this time of year and Indiana residents might see more of them, but it’s not a cause for alarm.
“Coyotes become more active during winter, and the bare vegetation this time of year increases the chance of catching a glimpse,” said the IDNR report released in December.
| “Young coyotes leave their parents to find a new home, making them more likely to be seen during winter. And in January, coyotes will be looking to breed, making them even more active. Seeing more coyotes does not mean they are increasing in number,” stated the Indiana Department of Natural Resources report.
It said coyotes like to eat animals and plants that thrive around yards and homes, including rabbits, mice, fruit and squirrels. They thrive around people because of the abundant food that comes with human development. To reduce the possibility of pets having a negative interaction with coyotes or any other wildlife, Indiana DNR experts advise owners to keep pets leashed in a kennel with a secure top, or indoors. |
Coyotes can look like dogs but are often distinguished by their bushy, black-tipped, downward tails.Park leaders in Brownsburg said they have not had any recent reports of coyote conflicts.
“What we are telling those that are concerned with encountering coyotes, especially in the natural areas of the park system, is to be aware of your surroundings at all times, have a friend with you while on the trails, if you can, and to keep pets on a leash to avoid any potential conflict,” said Director of Brownsburg Park and Recreation Travis Tranbarger.
Learn more about coyotes at http://wildlife.IN.gov/5688.htm.
