Dog attacked by coyotes and dragged away from owner while on walk, California cops say

Coyotes attacked a dog and dragged it away from its owner in a California park, police said.

The dog’s owner took it on a leashed walk in Contra Loma Regional Park in Antioch on Monday, Sept. 26, the East Bay Regional Park District Police Department said. The dog was yanked away from its owner.

“The owner chased after and recovered her injured dog from the coyotes,” police said in a news release. “The coyotes ran into the hills prior to officers’ arrival.”

The dog is expected to survive, but police said parkgoers should be aware of their surroundings.

“We share our open spaces with many animals, including some which can harm pets,” police said. “Dogs (especially small ones) should be kept on leash in areas that may have coyotes and bobcats.”

Coyotes in California

Thousands of coyotes roam California. The state’s Department of Fish and Game estimates between 250,000 and 750,000 coyotes live in the state.

Coyotes are most active during the night, but in areas with fewer people they can be active during the day.

“Urban coyotes are becoming very tolerant of human activities. Young coyotes tend to be more active during daylight hours than adults,” wildlife officials said. “Home range size varies depending on food availability.”

In some urban areas, coyotes have been known to take domestic house cats, small dogs and other pets from their homes, officials said. They’ve also been known to attack people.

What to do if you see a coyote

From May to September, adult coyotes can become very aggressive because they’re caring for their young, wildlife officials said. Small dogs are especially vulnerable to attack during this time.

If you see a coyote, police say it’s best to shout and throw things at the coyote. You shouldn’t run away because the coyote could see that as a sign of weakness.

Officials say you should always report aggressive behavior to authorities and call 911 if it’s an emergency.

Antioch is about 50 miles northeast of San Francisco.

This story was originally published September 27, 2022 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Dog attacked by coyotes and dragged away from owner while on walk, California cops say."