West Cleveland News

The City of Avon Lake has issued a warning to its residents regarding the coyote pup season, advising them to exercise caution when visiting areas that may harbor potential coyote dens. These include hollow logs, existing burrows of other animals, or brushy thickets.

According to an Avon Lake press release, the birth of pups follows a nine-week gestation period in April and May. The number of pups is dependent on available food resources and the surrounding coyote population. In urban areas, this number can average around six pups.

The press release further states that for several weeks post-birth, the mother spends most of her time in the den with the pups. Both parents are involved in hunting for food, but the male may take the lead when they are newborns. Coyote pups are weaned within a few weeks and around the time they reach nine weeks old, den sites are abandoned. The pups then travel with the pack during summer.

Avon Lake's press release also mentions that community members may observe a coyote "escorting" them regardless of whether they are accompanied by a pet or not. The coyote tends to follow at a closer distance than usual in order to remove them from an area near their den. People are advised to leave such areas as confidently as possible without resorting to running.

Lastly, Avon Lake advises residents to keep pets on a leash and prevent them from wandering into areas with potential den sites. According to the press release, coyotes display intolerance towards dogs during this period and may bite or attack if they feel threatened.