Little dog nearly lunch for adaptable coyote Encounters become more common
May 13, 2008
Bentley, a 2-year old Chihuahua owned by Jessica Ganchou of Bethlehem, is luckly to be alive after he was mauled and nearly killed by a coyote earlier this year. (Jim Shannon / RA)
Bentley the longhaired Chihuahua has a second chance at life thanks to a 9-volt battery, a loving owner and two skilled veterinarians who put him back together after he was attacked by a coyote.
The lap dog with the golden coat and diminutive body was romping behind his owner’s Bethlehem house at dusk Jan. 19 when a coyote snatched him. The coyote’s teeth pierced the dog’s flesh and clamped down as it headed for the edge of the yard.
Technology intervened. Bentley, who was wearing a battery-powered collar tuned to an electric fence in the yard, got an electrical shock as the coyote stepped over the metal wire. The charge zapped the coyote, which dropped Bentley and skulked away.
The little dog was lucky. Wildlife experts and veterinarians across Connecticut say the number of coyote attacks on pets, particularly small dogs like Bentley that appear as prey, has increased in recent years. Suburban sprawl is considered the biggest factor; homes built near hills and streams are in natural coyote habitat. Few disagree coyotes, which resemble small German shepherds, have become more aggressive, and are losing their innate fear of humans, as evidenced by the 2006 attack on two Washington, Conn., residents.
“The bottom line is coyotes are expanding into populated areas and perhaps into areas where pet owners are totally unsuspecting,” said Chris Vann, a wildlife biologist with the state Department of Environmental Protection. “They will protect their territories. If it can happen in the backyards of West Hartford and East Hartford, more populated areas, it can really happen anywhere.”
[...] this year. Jim Shannon / RA Bentley the longhaired Chihuahua has a second chance at life thanks tohttp://connecticuthuntingtoday.com/blog/index.php/2008/05/13/little-dog-nearly-lunch-for-adaptable-c…Video Search Results for: German Shepherd Dogs – WeShow US EditionAmateur video featuring a german [...]
I dont think enough people mention when they see a coyote. I also dont think there is enough publicity or areas to report them in CT. I saw one in my own yard in Norwalk, CT. Right by the Merrit. It was broad daylight. It was coming up behind us until My Lab turned around and wanted to go after it. I held her back and the coyote ran away.
Ralph, thanks for commenting. You are so right about people not calling in reports and to be honest I think a lot of people get them confused with regular dogs.
Exactly, when i turned around, my split second instinct thought it was a German Shepard but after realizing how it walked and getting a better look I knew it was a Coyote. News12 covers some stories but not enough to get the general public aware. Do you have numbers or websites we can report sitings?
Ralph, the only #’s that I know of are for the CT DEP at this link,
http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2690&q=322410&depNav_GID=1511
I live in Middletown. Yesterday mid morning while sitting on my deck a Coyote (which at first I also thought was a German Shepard) ran down the side of my house towards my backyard into the brush along side the Coginchug River bank. Many geese and other wildlife live throughout the banks. This was the first time I actually saw one. Other neighbors have seen them before.
My 11 year old cat Harry went missing 3 weeks after moving into my new home., I live in West Hartford near the reservoir..neighbors say there are coyote and/or a fox patrolling the neighborhoods early mornings..This cat has been going out in the woods of Rocky Hill for 11 years, I cannot believe he was in the wrong place wrong time and got eaten by a predator.
(( ..I am worried though because he knew all the doors and decks on this house pretty well in a short order after we moved in..3 weeks later poof….he vanishes..I have gone to all local vets, animal control and humane society, emailed Scott Haney, and hired petfinders to call around the neighborhood….I have even asked the woman who bought my condo in Rocky HIll to keep her eye out in case he goes there….I wish I knew what happened it is the not knowing that is killing me…..I miss Harry ….
The overpopulation of coyotes has become a serious problem in the state of CT and something needs to be done. I’ve been searching the web learning more about this serious problem all day and It seems to be a concern people have, yet nobody is offering any solutions. Yesterday morning my mother let her 8 year old cockerspaniel out around 7pm to go potty, like she always does. Well after a few minutes my mom went to bring the dog in and she wasn’t anywhere to be found. Herself, my brother and father looked for hours… and she didn’t turn up. So reluctantly they called off the search for the night, only to resume it again at 5am the next morning, After driving around the neighborhood, which is heavily wooded in areas, my brother while slowly rolling in his truck down the road was approached by a frantic woman that came running from her house. She asked my brother if he was looking for a black and white dog, and he said yes. She started sobbing at that moment and proceeded to tell him that she seen a coyote run through her yard with a black and white dog in it’s mouth around 7:30 the night before. She was a smaller breed of spaniel. yet she was fairly heavy as her nickname was “fatty”. About 35-40lbs. This is the worst experience a dog lover could ever experience. Laws prohibit you from shooting coyotes as they are a protected species, yet they are very dangerous, and the overpopulation is causing starvation and desperation. Something needs to be done.
Jessica Ct
Unfortunately many folks, like Jessica, are misinformed about hunting coyotes. Hunting coyotes is permissable and in fact they have the longest open season of any game in Connecticut with no bag limit. They are very adaptable (Wyle) and tend to be nocternal, appearing at dusk and dawn for those of us who are not out and about frequently at night. I hunt coyotes on my own property in Hebron. By having no limit to the number of coyotes a hunter can take and a very long open season, that indicates that the DEP realizes that they are a problem and encourages people to hunt them.
Our friends who live in Connecticut just had their small Havanese dog taken by a coyote – never to be seen again. Please be very careful with your pets and even your children. We live in Pennsylvania and coyotes have been seen in our area also. We are now on guard.
deb asplen, where in CT do they live. I think people would love to see where a majority of the sightings are. Thanks.
I recently moved to simsbury near the farmington river. we have seen and heard coyotes on our property. we’ve started keeping our cats in at night. I’m intrigued by coyotes and think they are beautiful animals. I think it’s pretty cool to have moved into an area with so much wildlife. Turkeys, deer, and coyote especially. I also think it’s absurd for a “dog lover” to want to kill coyotes. They are dogs! Take some precautions to protect the pets that you have brought into the coyotes natural environment and neither animal has to die.
Justin, do you understand that coyotes are hunting our pets… DUE to the fact that they are starved because of over-population? I guess starvation is a better way to die than, Huh?? I’m an animal lover yes, but that doesn’t mean that I’m not logical. It seems that you are not! When you learn more about coyotes, and “there natural environment” you will understand. And just to let people out there know, I do not live in the woods or in the country, these starving animals have moved to the populated areas in order to find food. When a child gets hurt by a coyote people seem to listen then. Whats the difference? They are causing harm either way at that point.
Jessica – in a previous post you wrote “something should be done” in regards to the coyote problem. Wondering what you had in mind. I say let them be, they are just surviving like we are. They have their own ways we have ours. Maybe people should move if they dont like the wild life. People who hunt deers should be hunted themselves.
how about we capture each one and relocate the coyotes? I think its easier for a human to move.
Ralph, the state of MA has expanded there coyote hunting season by 5 weeks, as well as allowing licensed PAC agents (Problem Animal Control) to control problem coyotes by tracking the coyotes and working with municipal police departments and animal control officers to decide what course of action should take place. I think this is a good starting point. Raplh, are you a vegetarian?
coyote were here before us – and if you move into the woods and destroy their home, then decide to kill them because you moved into their territory – that is plain wrong. We’ve had them in our “back yard” for 20 years, never had a problem – common sense – keep an eye on your pets and share the woods.
Hunters will look for ANY reason to kill animals—they like to stir up all of this hype about how dangerous coyotes, fox etc…are and it’s a joke. If you use common sense and KEEP YOUR CATS INSIDE ONLY, you won’t have to worry about your pet getting eaten. We have no right to kill these animals—we have to learn how to live with nature and all of its creatures peacefully. Man just can’t go around shooting everything up b/c it’s an inconvenience.
As for the overpopulation issue; let natural selection takes its place. The weak animals will perish and leave the strong ones to mate. All the stupid hunters do is mess up the natural order of things. Hunters stink!
I am an animal lover living in east granby, CT. We live on 4 acres and have had growing issues with the coyotes since we moved in almost 10 years ago. In fact, we have an ax at the back door because the coyote are not afraid of people and do NOT retreat when after an easy meal. This past friday at dusk, a coyote (or pack of them) came onto our property right near our house and took our beloved (and very spunky) scottish terrier, who was about 30 lbs. We could not find any signs of him until the sun came up, and all that was left was his blood soaked collar which had been torn apart. I am praying it was a quick end for the little bugger and i know he did not go without inflicting quite a bit of pain onto the group. That being said, i have a kids about the same size as the dog and a cat. I can not allow this to happen to another family’s pet, or God forbit a child – which will eventually happen with the coyotes becoming more and more aggressive. There are no real predators left to keep the coyote population in check. For our neighborhood, Man is it. My husband and I WILL be thinning the pack in our neighborhood. Until something like this happens to you, there is no way you can understand.
See, trust me I understand…as soon as I read they took your dog my heart dropped. It’s sad…but what’s sader is they are the humans mistakes. They are the ones who are clueless where they moved to and what they’ve done.
I don’t understand why people move somewhere and then complain about the enviroment. MOVE & stop changing our surroundings. Thats like saying, I’m moving to the Arctic and then saying there are too many Polar Bears, let me thin them out so I can live here.
Humans.
RLF – The human population is rising. Where do you suggest people build their houses? How can we stop changing the environment if there are more and more and more and more of us that need housing?
We have lived in the country in the same general neighborhood for 40+ years. The house we purchased was built in 1985 in a neighborhood with houses all about the same age. I personally have seen the population of coyotes significanly increasing in the state of Ct year after year because their natural preditors have been eliminated.
I did not just happen to move to the country from NYC and then complain about the wildlife and want to change it.
Just stumbled onto this website Just wanted to clarify I am not the previous Jessica on this commentary. I am Bentley’s owner just as an update he is doing great practically back to normal. Please be careful w/ pets Bentley is only alive b/c we had the means to spend thousands of dollars and got lucky. But would I spend so much money again — not so sure??? We have a baby now so extra money should go towards his future. When I called DEP they said they won’t shoot coyote unless a human is in danger. I don’t complain about the country its great to me. Its like when you live in the city- you watch out for cars and muggers. When you live in the country watch out for wildlife and landmines (animal droppings)!!!
our 5 pound yorkie was just taken and presumed killed. we live in woodbridge, ct. and heard our dog cry. we thought he had been shocked by our electric fence. when we went out to look for him in the woods, we saw a coyote cross our neighbors driveway, and assume he was taken by another coyote in its pack. it happened at 10pm tonight.
Coyotes unfortunately are resorting to what they need to do to survive. Whats even more unfortunate is that people seem to forget that WE are the apex predator around here. Fifty years ago this wasnt a problem because everyone in a rural setting had protection of some sort. Overpopulation can be controlled through proper hunting and trapping. The old fashioned way. Teach a kid to bow hunt or gun hunt, get out in the woods with them and share experiences that are few and far between in todays fast paced world. Liberal hunting seasons and bag limits should reduce populations in no time. With populations at the right levels, balance is maintained. Raccoon and other small animals populations will increase which in turn will provide plenty of food for the remaining populations of coyotes. Everyone seems to think coyotes are too cute to hunt. If they are so much like domesticated dogs, wht dont you go get one and bring it home as a pet.
Jeff so sorry to hear didn’t your dog have its collar on?? The zap is usually enough for the coyote to be startled and drop its prey.
Bentley had another run in with a pack of ten coyote this time there was nothing left. I was 10 feet away and they didn’t care it was about 7 am. By the way I was stupid I took my pit mix into the woods right after hoping to find remains to bury and they all surrounded us leaving only one opening to escape from. It was a stupid move on my part do not attempt and of course there was nothing left. If anyone want to hunt them on my property let me know. Woodbury about 10-13 acres. Bentley will be one of those dogs you never get over.
Jess,
Jess,
I think that it is sad that you would use something like this to get attention. You should have better protected your dog after the first incident. You need to take some responsibility here.
I think that you are asking for trouble and inviting chaos into your life.
You should look at why your nature tells you to act this way? Why the coyote’s nature is to hunt? And think about which behavior needs to be stopped.
Oh yes Justin are you one of those granola people? I didn’t realize I was looking for attention many news stations wanted to put Bentley on their show and I refused not wanting a lot of attention. I only did one newspaper article on the wishes of the vet and animal shelter I volunteer at. I soppose you are right I should accept some responsibility I didn’t realize I stated that I didn’t b/c I do. I am always w/ my little dog as I was that morning. I soppose I should cage and leash my little son while I’m at it, Huh?? Nature is telling me to start being PROactive. Your right I should have hunted all coyotes on my property before they had a chance to attack again. Kill or be killed isn’t that the saying? And yes coyotes are dogs but if one of my dogs killed or mauled a child or other dog I would put them down. Go sell your crazy elsewhere please, if I want life advice I will go pay for it by a professional who knows the whole story.
Hey jess love to help you out with the coyote problem. Im an avid hunter. (Both bow and arrow or gun.) Sounds like you need some population control.
I am very sorry about the loss of Bently and of the little Yorkie.
After reading this, it seems that coyote will wander into more populated areas. My kids’ cat went missing Monday night and has not returned. They are in a populated area that is surrounded by a wooded area near the Merritt in Norwalk. Very sad.
They cut short their honeymoon to come home early to search for the cat – but nothing.
I am a wildlife lover and appreciate the dilemma of the coyotes, HOWEVER, we have to draw the line. My 4-year-old terrier was mauled by a coyote right in our yard last Thursday night. We need an education campaign now about how to minimize the danger to our pets and kids. While The CT Dept of Environmental Protection asserts that coyote attacks on humans are “extremely rare”, all you need to do is google “coyote attacks” and you’ll learn otherwise. The problem is that no one is tracking this and public officials prefer to look the other way, suggesting residents hire private trappers. Would we take the same view if a person were out killing our pets?
we seem to be having a big coyote problem here in Portland, CT. We live about 1/2 mile from the CT river. Two weeks ago two of my cats disappeared. One of them was in an indoor cat but it was sunny out and when it was sunny we would leave the deck door open and he would lie on the deck in the sun. I forgot he was out there and left to take my kids to soccer. When I got back he was gone. No sign of him. The other one went out a lot but always came home at night. He never returned either. My neighbors cat disappeared a few days before my two. When I called animal control I was told there have been many cats disappearing in this area and many coyote sightings. What a horrible way for these animals to have to go. It just breaks my heart. By the way my yard is completely fenced in. So, I dont buy the fact that a fence will keep them away. Last week my friend around the corner called me. She was waiting at the bus stop for her kids and a coyote ran across the street. This was 3 o’clock in the afternoon. I miss my two cats terribly and now I worry about my kids, especially my 2 year old. I have a 75 lb golden retriever who is out in the yard all the time. Is she in danger too?
O geez that terrible news your poor children! There was in the news last year a golden who got bit in CT on the rear by a coyote. I can’t believe your neighbor saw one in the afternoon. I know they get bolder in the winter months. We were actually thinking of moving to Portland there is a red barn house for sale that we like.
Hey JIPer where do you live we just set up two tree stand on our property. My vet who saved Bentley the first time offered to come hunt as well.
Hey jess, i am living in the wethersfield area. I am willing to travel as well. Let me know if you would like to meet sometime to discuss moving forward with this problem.
Was out in my backyard which is wooded (CANTON, CT), at about five am this morning letting the dog out as usual and herd some noise out about 30 yard ahead of me thought maybe the wind and leaves. The dog was going about his biz and herd the noise closer. This brave coyote was about fifty feet from us and began to yelp at us. This is the third day it has come to meet us and every day it is getting closer. Keep in mind its dark this time of year and not easy to spot. What can I do to resolve since it is against the law to trap or kill in CT.???? The dog has got to be let out??
Kill it they will not question you it came on your property and clearly they are hunting something in your yard scoping out the situation I was 10 feet from my dog and one jump out and snatched him any way. We shoot on our property and noone has ever come checking in. And if they do say you were bringing out the trash and every time you do they have been circling and yelping and this time they came too close. Just do it before you have a $6,000 vet bill or worse a dead dog. Do you have children?, all the more reson.
Aren’t there laws about discharging firearms in residential areas?? Maybe you could try firecrackers or a beebee gun first rather than just killing an innocent animal trying to survive in it’s natural environment. Or even rocksalt, why jump straight to killing?
Hey ronn. Not illegal to trap or kill coyotes. Actually very liberal bag limits and seasons. aND IF YOU ARE IN A TIGHT NEIGHBORHOOD A BOW AND ARROW WILL DO THE TRICK.
I live in Farmington at 1:30 this morning I saved a cats life from a coyote. I was on my balcony smoking and heard a small comotion. A cotote was trying to catch a cat. The cat went up a tree with the coyote in hot pursuit. It was about 30 feet away from me. I yelled at the coyote and it looked at me for a good 20 seconds I continued to make noise for it to go away, it did.. The cat then came down from the tree after the coast was clear, and all was well. What are the odds of that? It seems to me as divine intervention. Lifes pretty cool some times.
Sincerely,
Cynthia Mehl
I live in Newington at base of cedar mountain on deepwood drive. During summer my cat disappeared and while canvassing neighborhood noticed many neighbors had missing cats signs posted on telephone poles. Several days later while my wife was walking at 8:30 AM in morning large male coyote dashed right in front of her cutting thru next street over from me neighbor’s yards. Constantly her coyotes howling at nite near Balg Quarry, would like to get rid of them but they are on state land I believe. Have another cat which we walk outside and generally kept in doors. Contacted animal control officer they did nothing except post message on local tv channel. Concerned about small children coyotes seem to be getting more agressive
I lost my sheltie bitch last evening to coyotes. I guess I was lucky I didn’t lose my dog as well. These animals are the love of my life now that I’m widowed and I sspend most of my time training them . I have lived here for over 30 years and we used to raise goats. Coyotes had neveer been a problem before. They were shy and evidently fed on woodland creatures. This attack with 2 animals coming right into my yard to grab this little dog has no reason behind it. There are still plenty of squirrels, etc. around.
I would like to see the DEP take steps to see that our homes are made safer from these killers.
To those IDIOTS that say humans need to respect that Coyotes were here first…
Coyotes are not native to CT. They moved in to fill the void left when wolves were removed by hunting. And just like deer, their population is exploding.
People argue that Coyotes are only doing what is natural to them, hunting. OK, well humans have been hunting as long as we have been on Earth. Quid pro Quo
Anyone want their pack thinned out a bit, let me know.
Alex I’m with you.
Coyotes are in NYC now so where are you supposed to go to get away from them? Some of the people on this thread are in need of a reality check. As Alex said coyotes are not native to Ct so we are not encroaching on their territory.
A grown woman was killed in Canada 2 years ago while walking on a trail in broad daylight. After doing some research I have realized that they are a threat to humans and to me and my family. The gun is coming with me if I have to go outside at night. Why take chances. And it would be nice if they were declared a pest and could be hunted year round.
[...] Little dog nearly lunch for adaptable coyote Encounters become 13 May 2008. Unfortunately many folks, like Jessica, are misinformed about hunting coyotes. Hunting coyotes is permissable and in fact they have the Little dog nearly lunch for adaptable coyote Encounters become [...]