LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Some people living in the Las Vegas valley are on edge after sightings of coyotes in their neighborhoods.
Residents in the Seven Hills community says coyotes are attacking and killing their pets.
Shannen Loo says coyotes in her neighborhood are not unheard of but the news of coyotes attacking pets in her neighbor's yard is unusual.
"They are not even afraid of us anymore, they are not spooked," Loo said. "What's next, kids?"
Her neighbor, Leanne Segura lost her dog to a coyote on Christmas Eve.
Segura says she did everything right, she took her dog out and kept a close eye on her pet.
Still, a coyote attacked and killed her dog.
Doug Nielson, the conservation education supervisor for the Nevada Department of Wild Life, says coyotes will always have a place in the valley and rodents are their primary food base, not humans. But he says one reason residents might be seeing an increase of coyotes could be enhanced landscapes in the valley.
"One of the things that we have done in the past 30 years in Southern Nevada is we changed the way that we were developing," said Nielson. "And now we have master plan communities where we have water and grass increase, which enhances the habitat for prey species which is the food base for coyotes."
Nielson says it's up to you to protect your pets, and you should not leave them alone outside. He also says pet owners shouldn't take their furry loved ones out between dusk and dawn.
According to the Nevada Department of Wild Life coyotes are unprotected animals.
If your community wants to hire a company to remove the coyotes, you can.
But Nielson says if you do remove the coyotes, expect to see a lot more rodents.
To learn more about coyotes visit ndow.org, and if you feel like you are in danger call (775) 688-1331 or (775) 688-1332.
