Increasing reports of aggressive coyotes and foxes in the Magic Valley

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (CBS2) — Idaho Fish and Game is receiving increasing reports of coyote and fox activity around Twin Falls and other areas of the Magic Valley, according to a recent news release.

Fish and Game say officials were recently made aware of two non-fatal coyote incidents with off-leash dogs. The first encounter with an aggressive coyote occurred near Hagerman near Justice Grade when an off-leash dog was bitten by a coyote.

Fish and Game also received a report that a hiker, along with her unleashed dogs, encountered aggressive coyotes along the Auger Falls trail system in the Snake River Canyon.

A third encounter involved a fox that aggressively approached a man walking through a large vacant lot near Fred Meyer in Twin Falls. The report also noted that domestic cats have disappeared from the neighborhood.

The recent incidents occurred near the peak of the coyote and fox breeding season, when coyotes and foxes can become more territorial.

Over the last few years, Fish and Game’s Southwest Region office in Nampa has also received several reports of dog-aggressive coyotes in the Boise area.

“During breeding season for any wildlife species, they can become aggressive towards people and pets,"says Mike McDonald, Regional Wildlife Manager. "Our advice is to avoid known areas with coyotes and foxes and keep your dogs on-leash when in these areas.”

Encounters between coyotes and domestic dogs can happen at any time of year, and coyotes can always pose a risk to dogs in situations where they view them as either prey or as competition.

For more information, visit Idaho Fish and Game's website or contact the Magic Valley Regional Office at (208) 324-4359.

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