After a difficult winter comes a warning for pet owners along the shoreline: Coyotes are hungry, more aggressive and they are on the prowl, according to wildlife experts.
Though coyote attacks on humans are rare, it is a different safety scenario for pets, and officials have issued a new round of warnings about coyote sightings in and around East Haven.
"Sometimes we go out at two or three in the morning, so I really never thought about it," said Michelle Benivegna, a dog owner who has lived in East Haven for more than three decades.
The East Haven Animal Shelter is warning residents like Benivegna to be on the lookout in light of multiple coyote sightings over the past few days.
The animals have been spotted not only in rural locations, but also close to the center of town and along South End Road, according to the shelter’s Facebook page.
"There was always wildlife but I think we didn’t notice it as much because they had more places to hide," said Benivegna.
She already knows how close wildlife can come to her and her dog Otto: Benivegna recently recorded cellphone video of her backyard showing a fox and her litter right outside the door.
The best way to prevent a coyote attack is to be proactive, according to animal experts. Cats should stay inside and no pets should be allowed outside alone. Dogs should always be on a lease, especially smaller dogs.
The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection reports that coyotes in Connecticut average between 30 and 50 pounds.
The warnings may have come to late back in March, when surveillance cameras caught two coyotes chasing and attacking a 5-year-old pit bull in Ansonia. The dog has since recovered.
Pet owners are also urged to make sure their animal’s rabies vaccines are up to date.
