Too close

This barren picture is the view behind our fence in our backyard. Not much out there other than trees, a creek & land. In the summer-time the trees are so full & thick with leaves that you can't see through them or even visualize the field behind the trees. Looks pretty ugly during the winter months as you can tell but in the summer it is quite pretty.

About 12 feet behind our wooden fence is a barb-wire fence. Picture if you will a relaxing Friday night, feet are up & reclined in the Lazy Boy & you are watching TV when all of a sudden you hear loud howling & barking & yipping coming from your backyard.

I jumped up, grabbed the flashlight in the garage, flipped on the patio light, opened the backdoor & there behind the barb-wire fence I counted at least 5 coyotes. WAY too close for my comfort! They were out there playing & running around, passing through, making sure they were heard & were they ever LOUD! Our dogs inside were going nuts! Living out here in the country we hear the coyotes all the time but this is the very first time they have ever been that close.

They eventually took off but I couldn't help but wonder if they would be close by when I let the dogs out for the evening to potty. Then my mind started racing with all kinds of scenarios & questions:
-can coyotes jump fences?
-would they go after my dogs?
-what if our dogs tried to go after them?
-if the coyotes attacked one of our dogs what would I do?
-where did Shane put that gun?

I ended up doing a little bit of research when I got back in the house & this is what I found out:
- Coyotes can't jump over high fences, but they do climb them by using their front paws to climb to the top and kicking hard with their back legs to push themselves up and over the fence.
- Coyotes have been known to kill small animals including cats & dogs.
- Attacks on humans are uncommon & rare however it has been known to happen if the coyote feels the pack is threatened in anyway.
- Located the gun.

Oh & I did read that it is dangerous to feed the coyotes as they will keep returning to the area looking for more food & may bring others from the pack. DID YOU READ THAT KERI??? Quit feeding Chester!!! :)

So after all that, I am done with opening the door & letting the dogs go out alone. I now go out with them at night & keep my eye on them at all times & what's lurking behind the fence!