There’s nothing better than taking a long evening walk to relish the end of summer.
But Denverites out and about in the evenings shouldn’t be surprised if they spot a coyote or two enjoying the golden hour, too.
Coyote sightings are frequent around town, particularly at dawn and dusk, said Vicki Vargas-Madrid, a wildlife ecologist with Denver Parks and Recreation. But joggers and pet owners should show no fear: coyotes can be kept at bay with some good old screaming and shouting.
Turns out, they’re just as afraid of us as we are of them.
“If they do encounter a coyote walking on a trail, raise hands and yell, and make noises to make them want to leave,” Vargas-Madrid said. “Instill natural fear in them.”
Reports of missing cats blamed on the urban carnivores have started popping up on neighborhood social media sites. And the city gets calls about people seeing coyotes frequently, typically every other day, Vargas-Madrid said.
City-dwellers may not be pleased to learn that coyotes are well adapted to urban environments and will build their dens anywhere from an underutilized backyard to beneath a home’s deck. They can also make their homes around trails, Vargas-Madrid said.
The best way to remain safe in the presence of a coyote is to scare it off, by yelling and throwing things. Coyotes don’t tend to be a threat to human safety, but they can target animals. To protect pets, itap best to keep animals on leashes while out walking and indoors at night.
Coyotes are most active during mating season, in the spring. By summer and fall, the animals tend to be raising their young, and so are more likely to be traveling in packs.
The best weapons against a coyote are awareness and preparedness, Vargas-Madrid said.
“Itap very possible (the coyotes) might have young that they’re roaming around with or that they are protecting a den,” Vargas-Madrid said. “Take precautions.”
