Coyotes in Urban Setting: Mating with Dogs, Not Sleeping With Wolves

[Livonia couple show picture of a cat that a coyote ate]

BrooklynDodger saw an animal early in the morning in the warehouse district near the Detroit River, which on further review was probably a coyote. Another example of urban areas returning to wilderness? Apparently not; you can imagine that an urban landscape would have lot more food for wild beasts than the forest, just as it does for people.

BrooklynDodger is somewhat pleased that coyotes reduce the pet population.

BrooklynDodger was not aware that coyotes can mate with domestic dogs.

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More wily coyotes call suburbs home
By George Hunter / The Detroit News

About the animals:
 The animals are found throughout Michigan and are most abundant in the Upper and northern Lower Peninsulas. Their population, however, is growing in southern Michigan.
 Coyotes are members of the dog family and can be difficult to distinguish from a medium-sized German shepherd. The predators range in weight from 20-45 pounds. Coyotes have erect and pointed ears. They have bush tails, and body color ranges from yellow to gray to light brown.
 Coyotes can run almost 40 mph.
 Primarily nocturnal, coyotes usually shun humans. Their intelligence and adaptiveness allow them to coexist in suburbs. They originally ranged in the West, but sightings now are common across the United States. A pair was even found in New York City.
 Coyotes usually feed on small animals and fruit, but also eat sheep, dogs and cats. Attacks on small fawns occur, too.
 Coyotes mate for life, parenting two to 12 cubs each year. Only half survive.

What can you do:
 While there have been no reported coyote attacks on humans, state officials urge citizens to use common sense if they live in a coyote area. Coyotes are instinctively afraid of people.
 Never approach or touch a coyote.
 Never intentionally feed one.
 Don't allow pets or small children to roam free when coyotes are present.
 Put garbage out the morning of pickup day.
 Eliminate all outside food sources, including pet food.
 Clear wood and brush piles, which are good habitats for rats and mice, which attract coyotes.
 Spay or neuter dogs. Coyotes are attracted to and can mate with unspayed or unneutered domestic dogs.



FARMINGTON -- Nancy Maitre was sipping coffee on her back porch one morning when she saw a coyote run through her yard carrying her cat Ike in its mouth…
Maitre is among a growing number of Metro Detroiters who report seeing wild animals like coyotes that are traditionally associated with rural areas. As subdivisions and strip malls replace the meadows and woods the coyotes once called home, they are increasingly finding homes in neighborhoods.
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Coyotes are more prevalent in the suburbs than most other wild animals because they easily adapt to different environments, Bostick said.

"That translates into their populations doing well, which is why we're seeing more of them coming into suburbia," Bostick said…

Coyotes aren't the only animals that are being pushed into Metro Detroit, Bostick said. Development is also forcing raccoons, deer, skunks and hawks out of their natural habitats.

"A few weeks ago, a huge hawk swooped down into our front yard and carried off a wild rabbit in its claws," Maitre said. "This hawk was huge, and it occurred to us that it could have easily taken (our cat) Ivan away. It's a good thing we keep him in the house.

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"There have been a few isolated cases in California of coyotes attacking people, but as far as I know, it's never happened in Michigan," Bostick said.
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The state has put together coyote facts on its Web site, . ...