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When I moved to Colorado, I was warned by my pet sitter not to let my cat outside. "I've lost more clients to foxes around here," he said. The thought of my best friend getting eaten freaked me out but Mother Nature is not always the best babysitter. Ask Ozzy Osbourne who lost his beloved Pomeranian, Little Bit, to a coyote as he and Sharon watched the Michael Jackson tribute on TV.
The reality is, they are making more humans but not more land. As the human population steadily moves in on wildlife environments, the beasties are doing their best to survive, even if it means eating Fido.
"That's who I do this for. They can't defend themselves, so it's up to me."
--Jerry Welch who resolved to hunt coyotes in retribution for his cat's death
Other than other cats and dogs, here are the top ten creatures that attack pets, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI):
1. Snake
2. Coyote
3. Raccoon
4. Squirrel
5. Scorpion
6. Javelina
7. Porcupine
8. Ground Hog
9. Skunk
10. Rat
Of course, it depends on where you live. I notice that foxes didn't even make the list.
For example, javelina and scorpion claims were exclusive to the state of Arizona. Javelinas, or peccaries, are feral pig-like omnivores native to the southwestern United States. I'm told they are clinically known as "vicious motherfuckers."
"Whether in urban or rural areas, pet owners should be aware of the danger posed by wild animals. VPI's data reveals that not all members of the animal kingdom observe backyard fences, or appreciate the curiosity of a pet that may enter their territory. Always make sure that a pet's rabies vaccine is up to date and if you know that potentially dangerous wild animals are present, or you're in an unfamiliar area, take extra care to keep your pet close and secure."
--Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI
Some wildlife are not content in staying outside and waiting. In nearby Boulder, hungry bears have recently broken into three houses - while residents were home - all within a week. And since he already knew where the kitchen was, one bear visited the same home twice in one week.
“Dogs and cats — those are tasty tidbits for creatures."
--Jake Goheen, assistant professor of zoology at the University of British Columbia
***
Dogman2 over at What A Dog Would Do is extra careful:
"I live in an area where there are many coyote’s and at times my two dogs wouldn’t even go out the door knowing that the coyote’s were out there just waiting. So I always walk out with my two little guys to be safe."
