The department says it has recently received reports of two separate coyote attacks involving dogs in different areas of the city and that people need to be on the look out for aggressive Coyotes.
Police also say that coyotes are a very normal part of the Twin Cities ecosystem, and that attacks on pets are not as common.
Though both of the dogs are expected to survive, Geoffrey Miller with the Twin Cities Coyote and Fox Project says keeping your pets leashed even in the backyard is the best way to keep them safe this time of year.
He says that coyote activity and boldness often peak in the late spring and early summer. During this time, adult coyotes are actively foraging to feed their new pups, bringing them into closer proximity with residential backyards.
"They have their pups which are at a really vulnerable state right now." says Miller, " They're less than 10 pounds and a lot of our dogs are 90 plus pounds and coyotes see them as a really mortal danger."
He says The Twin Cities Coyote and Fox Project plans to release seasonal trail maps so people can see exactly which local dens may present the highest safety risk in their neighborhoods.
He says securing your garbage your garbage, and taking down bird feeders, which attract small rodents that coyotes eat, and never leaving pet food outside are also important steps to keeping wildlife off your property.
Miller reiterated that if you see an aggressive coyote or a den near your home, to call the Minnesota DNR or your local local Animal Control.
The department says it has recently received reports of two separate coyote attacks involving dogs in different areas of the city.
The department says it has recently received reports of two separate coyote attacks involving dogs in different areas of the city.
