Dogs in Wayland, Sudbury and Concord killed by coyotes

Norman Miller, MetroWest Daily News
·3 min read

At least three dogs have been killed by coyotes in the past two weeks in Concord, Sudbury and Wayland, the unfortunate victims of the wild canines preparing for the winter months, authorities said.

"Right now, they're packing weight on and getting ready for winter," said Jennifer Condon, owner of Boardman's Animal Control in Maynard who also acts as animal control officer in the three communities. "They have to pack on their weight to survive in winter."

Coyote attack in Sudbury

In Sudbury, a 10-pound shih tzu was grabbed by two coyotes and carried off into the woods around 9 p.m. on Aug. 16 on Cedar Creek Road, police spokesman Lt. John Perodeau said.

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Officers and one of the owners went into the woods and found the injured dog.

"They were able to transport the dog to an urgent care facility, but it later passed away," Perodeau said.

Coyote attack in Wayland

The Wayland incident occurred about two weeks ago when an elderly one-eyed pug was attacked and killed by a coyote, Condon said.

After coyotes killed small dogs in three communities, authorities are warning pet owners not leave small animals alone outside.
After coyotes killed small dogs in three communities, authorities are warning pet owners not leave small animals alone outside.

"Coyotes know ... they can sense when they have an easy kill,' Condon said.

Coyote attack in Concord

Condon did not have many details about the Concord incident but said she believed it involved a smaller dog.

Spring is when coyotes are most active, but this time of year is also an active time, Condon said. Not only are the coyotes trying to put on weight for the winter, all of the young coyotes born in the spring are now learning to hunt.

"Now you'll see the juveniles out and about," said Condon. "They know how to kill and you'll start hearing them howling in the woods."

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It's not just live animals that coyotes seek. As animal control officer, Condon and her employees are responsible for cleaning up road kill. Any road kill reported after they do their morning cleanup is left until the next morning. That's an easy meal for coyotes.

"About 50 percent of the road kill is gone by the next morning," she said.

Condon said the safe thing to do is to never let small animals out on their own. In the Sudbury incident, the owners had let the dog out in their backyard to go to the bathroom for the night and the coyotes grabbed it within seconds.

"People really need to pay attention to their surroundings," said Condon. "It hasn't been good."

How to protect your pets and yourself from coyotes

  • Don't leave small dogs and other pets alone outside and keep them leashed at all times.  Coyotes view cats and small dogs as potential food, and larger dogs as competition. Feed your pets indoors. Outdoor feeding can attract many wild animals.

  • Don't try to pet or feed coyotes

  • Secure your garbage: Coyotes raid open trash materials and compost piles.

  • Close off crawl spaces: Coyotes may use those spaces to rest and raise their young.

  • Don't let coyotes intimidate you. Don’t hesitate to scare or threaten coyotes with loud noises, bright lights, or water sprayed from a hose.

  • Cut back bushy edges. These provide cover for coyotes and their prey.

  • Protect livestock and produce: Use fencing and clear fruit from around trees.

SOURCE: Mass. Wildlife

Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow Norman Miller on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Dogs in Wayland, Sudbury and Concord killed by coyotes