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Coyotes in Las Vegas: how I keep my pets safe
You step out for morning coffee and there is a coyote standing in your yard. It happens here, especially on the desert edge and near the washes. Here is what actually works to protect small pets, without the panic.
I have lived in Las Vegas since I was five. Lori Ballen, Keller Williams Realty · 702-604-7739
Why coyotes come into the neighborhood
They follow food and water. Our valley backs right up to open desert, so the washes and greenbelts act like highways straight into the subdivisions.
Pet food and water
Bowls left outside, water features, and drip lines are an easy meal in the desert heat.
Rodents and rabbits
Where there are rats, mice, and cottontails, coyotes follow. Bird feeders draw both.
Trash and fallen fruit
Open cans, compost, and fruit under a tree keep them coming back night after night.
Cover to hide in
Woodpiles, dense shrubs, and open sheds give them shade and a place to den.
How I keep my pets safe
Coyotes are busiest at dawn and dusk, and activity climbs in winter breeding season and spring when they are raising pups. A few habits handle most of the risk.
Do not leave pets out alone
Especially small dogs and cats, and never overnight. Go out with them, particularly at dawn and dusk.
Keep cats indoors
Indoors or in a fully enclosed catio. An outdoor cat is the most at-risk pet in the valley.
Use a 6-foot fixed leash
Skip the retractable leash on walks so your dog stays close and cannot bolt toward a coyote.
Clear the food and water
Bring bowls in after feeding, secure the trash, pick up fallen fruit, and rethink the bird feeder.
Fence six feet, or higher
Coyotes clear a low fence and dig under gaps. A tall fence with coyote rollers on top helps a lot.
Cover the sky too
Owls and hawks hunt small pets. A roofed run or covered patio gives little ones a safe spot outside.
If you come face to face with a coyote
This is called hazing. The goal is to keep coyotes afraid of people so they move along and stay wild.
Stand your ground
Do not run. Running can trigger a chase. Face the coyote and back away slowly only once it retreats.
Get big and loud
Wave your arms, shout, clap, use an air horn or whistle. Make yourself look as large as you can.
Add a deterrent
Toss a tennis ball or small rock toward it, or spray water. Always leave it an open escape route.
Keep your pet close
Do not scoop your dog up into the middle of it. Hold the leash tight and keep the dog at your side.
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Quick answers
Are coyotes dangerous to people?
Attacks on adults are rare. Coyotes are wary of us by nature, and hazing keeps it that way. The real risk is to small pets and to coyotes that have been fed and lost their fear of people. Keep a close eye on small children when a coyote has been seen nearby.
What attracts coyotes to my yard?
Food and water, mostly. Pet bowls, water features, open trash, fallen fruit, bird feeders, and the rodents and rabbits those things attract. Cover like woodpiles and dense shrubs helps too. Remove the buffet and most coyotes move on.
Why are we seeing more of them lately?
Activity rises with the seasons. Winter is breeding season and spring into early summer is pup-rearing, so adults range farther for food. Our neighborhoods sit against open desert, and the washes give coyotes an easy path in year round.
Who do I call about a coyote?
Haze it first so it keeps its fear of people. Call 911 if a coyote is threatening someone or has bitten a person or pet. To report repeated activity, contact the Nevada Department of Wildlife Southern Region at 702-486-5127. It is illegal to feed coyotes, and feeding is what creates the bold ones.
Should I carry anything on walks?
A little noisemaker goes a long way. An air horn or whistle, a walking stick, and a fixed 6-foot leash cover most situations. Some people also carry a small squirt of deterrent spray. The point is to look and sound bigger than the coyote.
Buying or selling a home in Las Vegas?
I help homeowners across the valley, from the desert-edge communities to the heart of Summerlin and Henderson. If you have a real estate question, I am happy to help.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this site are affiliate links. Portions of this content are generated by AI.
