Coyote attempts to take second dog in Sioux Falls

Authorities are warning pet owners to be vigilant after a coyote successfully took a small dog and attempted to take another in Sioux Falls over the weekend.

The first dog was taken at 6:15 a.m. on Saturday from the 3800 block of North Galaxy Lane in northwestern Sioux Falls, Animal Control supervisor Julie DeJong said.

A coyote attempted to take another dog from the same area on Sunday around the same time, she said. However, the second dog was able to be rescued by its owner and was not hurt. Both dogs were morkies, or a mix of Yorkshire terriers and Maltese dogs, DeJong said.

Related:Animal Control: Coyote took small dog in northwestern Sioux Falls

DeJong said authorities believe the same coyote is responsible for both attacks, and that Animal Control employees are working to trap the coyote and euthanize it.

Pet owners are encouraged to keep their pets away from drainage areas, where wild animals like to congregate, and keep trash picked up and pet food inside so as not to attract coyotes, DeJong said.

Animal Control also recommends using "hazing" techniques to scare off coyotes, such as yelling, waving your arms, making loud noises like banging pots and pans, spraying the coyote with water and vinegar or throwing rocks or sticks. 

If you see a coyote acting aggressively, call Animal Control at 367-7000.

While coyotes are generally afraid of humans, DeJong said, these recent attacks show that at least one coyote is getting bolder.

"They are getting to lose their fear of humans," she said. "(This coyote has) a tendency to be more aggressive ... it will need to be removed, it can't be retrained at this point."