Coyotes in Westlake: 5 Things To Do/Not To Do

Recently, a Westlake woman’s terrier was attacked not once, but twice by a coyote in her backyard. The coyote was eventually scared off when the woman turned on a flashlight (coyotes are nocturnal and prefer the dark).

Westlake police recommend these tips for keeping your pets safe:

The Do's...

• Frighten coyotes with loud noise
• Keep garbage in a tightly sealed container
• Use yard lights and motion detectors to frighten them away
• Keep pets in fenced areas and covered kennels
• Always keep yourself between coyote and small children or pets 

And the Don'ts... 

• Never feed or attempt to tame a coyote
• Do not turn your back on a coyote or run away from a coyote
• Don’t keep quiet. If approached, make loud noises and make yourself look big. If this fails, throw rocks or other objects
• Don’t let landscaping become overgrown. Enclose under decks and out buildings
• Don't feed other animals that coyote prey upon. Bird seed often attracts these innocent animals to your backyard, which in turn, attracts a coyote that is hungry.