Springtime can bring conflicts with off-leash dogs and coyotes during breeding season
A coyote in Idaho. Coyotes are highly adaptable animals, and denning can occur even in city parks or along urban river corridors, which have good hiding habitat and abundant prey species.
Idaho Fish and Game
Coyote activity around the Magic Valley, especially in those areas where people are recreating, provides Idaho Fish and Game an opportunity to remind recreationists to take precautions with their pets to reduce the risk of conflicts with coyotes, especially during the denning season.
Fish and Game officials in the Magic Valley Region were recently made aware of a non-fatal coyote incident with off-leash dogs in the Snake River canyon. The encounter with an aggressive coyote occurred near Auger Falls, a natural area managed by the Twin Falls Parks Department.
A group of bike riders with three off-leash dogs were using the Auger Falls trail system when an off-leash dog was bitten and chased by a coyote. Reports indicate that one of three off-leashed dogs ran ahead of a group and found a coyote den. It was then that the dog was attacked by the coyote and sustained bites. The riders reported that after the attack the coyote continued to follow them for about a mile down the trail.
"Please remember that Auger Falls and surrounding public lands are wild environments shared with wildlife," said Twin Falls Mayor Ruth Pierce. "For everyone's safety, keep dogs leashed at all times. Respect wildlife by observing from a distance and never approach or feed them. Let's be responsible stewards for these amazing wildlands that surrounds us."
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