Coyote attack highlights conflict

If you talk to Greg and Kim Zadow of Sisters about coyotes and dogs, you'd best be sympathetic; the other day they and their dachshund/beagle mix, Rudi, had an incident with a coyote that they didn't expect - or need.

The Zadow's home is up against the Deschutes Land Trust's Indian Ford Meadow Preserve, and when Kim went out to pull weeds, as usual her two canine pals Rudi and Pepper came out to help her. When Kim went to shut off the irrigation to stay dry in her weed-pulling project, both dogs went out into meadow to play.

Suddenly Pepper came running back to the house, acting excited and apprehensive, and at that moment Kim heard Rudi screaming.

She dropped what she was doing and took off in the direction she heard Rudi's distress calls, but as she got closer, suddenly Rudi came running past her, headed for the house, her back covered with blood.

When Kim caught up with Rudi back at the house she could see the skin on the dog's back was almost shredded. Without hesitation, she wrapped her wounded pal in a towel and headed for the Sisters Veterinary Clinic to see what could be done.

Looking at the wounds, Zadow assumed the damage was caused by a coyote that grabbed Rudi by the back and started shaking it like coyotes do when killing victims of that size. Had it been a cougar it would have been curtains for poor Rudi, and if it had been another dog, Kim would have seen it immediately.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) has, over the years, tried to look at coyotes as an integral part of Oregon's wildlife ecosystem. Scientifically, coyotes are a very important part of the Central Oregon wildlife community. Just that fact that they'll eat just about any small (and at times large) game animal they can catch is enough to make that statement true. Hungry coyotes also eat rodents that compete with game animals and human agriculture.

ODFW has made an attempt to advise the residents of Oregon how to get along with - or at best put up with - our native relative of the wolf. But the stuff that coyotes pull off on we human residents makes it tough to love them, understand them, or even live with them - like trying to run off with

Zadow's Rudi.

Here's what ODFW says when dealing with coyotes: "Most of the time, coyotes are considered to be more of a nuisance than actually a threat. Prevention is always the best medicine when it comes to avoiding, minimizing or correcting problems with coyotes.

"By far the greatest number of conflicts between humans and coyotes are those in which the animal has become habituated to a residential area by the behavior of human beings. Fortunately, most of these situations are easily prevented or corrected by removing food sources and access to shelter."

Even feeding birds - if overdone - can attract predators, as supported by your neighbor's cat waiting under the bird feeder, or a case where a feeder was filled with meat scraps to attract magpies, but a golden eagle dropped in for a handout.

This is what ODFW suggests is wise behavior when it comes to unwanted wildlife interactions:

• Do not leave small children unattended outdoors if coyotes have been frequenting the area.

• Feed pets indoors and do not leave pet food or water bowls outside.

• Supervise pets when they are outside; if possible, keep them leashed.

• Do not leave cats or small dogs out after dark.

• Secure garbage and garbage cans in an area inaccessible to wild animals (use bleach as necessary to remove odors that could attract coyotes).

• Harvest fruits and vegetables as they become ripe and do not allow them to accumulate and create an attraction for coyotes.

• Never leave food or water out for feral animals or wildlife.

• Bring livestock and fowl into barns, sheds or coyote-proof enclosures at night.

• Trim and clear vegetation that provides cover for coyotes or their prey.

• Remove bird feeders. Coyotes are attracted to them and the birds and rodents that use the feeder.

• Secure compost piles.

• Clean barbecues regularly.

• Build a coyote-proof perimeter fence.

• When you take your dog for a walk in wild places, keep it close (on a leash).

If you have serious problems with coyotes, ask for help from a professional by calling ODFW at 541-388-6363.