FARGO — Two dogs are safe after a surprise encounter with a coyote Wednesday morning in south Fargo.
It was all caught on the owner’s ring camera.
It happened a little after 7 a.m., just south of Davies High School. After the homeowner let his dogs out to go to the bathroom, he noticed a coyote standing in his backyard. His dogs barked and chased after the coyote. That’s when he ran outside to save his dogs, yelling at the coyote. The coyote then ran away into the woods.
North Dakota Game and Fish biologist Doug Leier said it’s not uncommon to find coyotes in urban areas.
He said if you come across any wild animal, the best thing to do is give it space.
“We don’t recommend intentionally going after the coyote. If you make a loud noise, turn on a light, do something to maybe startle them that will move them on,” says Leier.
To limit the chances of a coyote coming into your backyard, Leier recommends not leaving pet food outdoors.
He added it’s best to keep dogs on a leash if they are in an unfenced area.
Kjersti Maday joined WDAY as a reporter in May of 2024. She is a native of Granada, Minnesota and graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2015.