Friends, like it or not, it's coyote mating season. In the Texas panhandle we're no stranger to coyotes. The feral canines are a part of the culture in this part of the world. We've all spent nights camping, listening to them yapping in the distance. We're currently in their mating season.

Here's why that means added danger for your pets.

The Males Are Getting Aggressive

During mating season, as you might expect, males get really aggressive. Think of that friend you have that's been single for way too long. He's a bit of a grouch, right? Coyotes are like that, but a thousand times worse.

Males get more aggressive around this time, and are more prone to attack your smaller pets. Doing a little digging, I came away with somewhat scary info.

The most unsettling bit of info is how smart coyotes can be. One resource suggested walking your pet at different times and along different paths. They state the reason for this is that coyotes will watch and memorize patterns.

Never in a million years would I have thought coyotes were capable of that.

How To Protect You And Your Pet From Coyotes

Thankfully, many resources point out that coyote encounters aren't necessarily all that frequent. Many are also quick to point out that they're more afraid of us than we are of them.

One of the things you can do is not leave any kind of pet food outside. Also, and this should go without saying, you should never feed a coyote. As the man once said though, there's always one in the crowd.

Don't leave cats outside. Don't leave your dogs tied up outside. It leaves them defenseless against the coyotes. Don't leave your pets unattended.

Interesting fact I came across when reading about all of this, if you have a male dog that isn't neutered, it may become attracted to the scent of a female coyote. He'll follow that scent to his grave. The male coyotes will be waiting for him. Another reason to keep an eye on your pets.

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