Coyote Takes, Kills 2 Dogs In Lake Oswego

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — After a coyote took and killed her two chihuahuas in broad daylight Thursday, a Lake Oswego homeowner hopes to warn her neighbors that coyotes are in the area.

The coyote reportedly came onto the homeowner's property to snatch the chihuahuas right out of the woman's backyard, and the whole thing was captured on the homeowner's surveillance camera — which KATU News shared Friday.

The video begins with the chihuahuas coming into the backyard, barking. Moments later, a coyote comes from the wooded area behind the house and grabs one of the chihuahuas in its jaws before rushing it back into the trees. According to KATU, the coyote then returned a second time to grab and kill the other chihuahua.

“I’ve seen coyotes in my yard frequently, so I know they’re here,” neighbor Kirsten Wilde told KATU, noting that as a small dog owner herself she takes great strides to protect her pup. “If I’m very concerned, I’ll put her on a leash when I go out at night, and I know a lot of people in the neighborhood take that precaution with their small dogs."

Coyotes are not unusual in the metro region's more rural areas, but occasionally they'll venture into urban settings as well.

In April, Wilsonville resident Sandi Wilson shared with Patch a video she recorded from her porch at Bridgecreek Apartments. In the brief cellphone video a seemingly large pack of coyotes can be heard howling just behind her apartment, which is only about 1 mile from the Wilsonville Town Center.

When she spoke with Patch after recording her video, Wilson said it was the first instance in her nine years as a resident of Wilsonville that she'd heard that many coyotes so close to town.

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According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, coyotes are more often considered a nuisance than a threat; but when a pack or individual animal becomes habituated to a residential area, that's when their presence can become a greater problem.

ODFW officials advise removing food and shelter sources from around your home to help keep coyotes away, along with the following tips:

• Do not leave small children unattended outdoors if coyotes have been frequenting the area;
• Feed pets indoors and do not leave pet food or water bowls outside;
• Supervise pets when they are outside; if possible, keep them leashed;
• Do not leave cats or small dogs out after dark;
• Secure garbage and garbage cans in an area inaccessible to wild animals (use bleach as necessary to remove odors that could attract coyotes);
• Harvest fruits and vegetables as they become ripe and do not allow them to accumulate and create an attraction for coyotes;
• Never leave food or water out for feral animals or wildlife;
• Bring livestock and fowl into barns, sheds or coyote-proof enclosures at night;
• Trim and clear vegetation that provides cover for coyotes or their prey;
• Remove birdfeeders. Coyotes are attracted to them and the birds and rodents that use the feeder;
• Secure compost piles;
• Clean barbecues regularly; and
• Build a coyote-proof perimeter fence.

Follow this link to see the homeowner's security cam video on KATU.com. Viewer discretion is advised.

Image via Shutterstock