Coyotes Diseases – Humane Wildlife Removal

What Diseases Do Coyotes Carry?

Coyotes may resemble dogs from a distance, however, we can quickly see the difference between these wild animals and our pets. Coyotes have quite a destructive nature which makes them less likable than man’s best friend- dogs. They can also pose a threat to livestock and pets. What is more, coyotes can carry various diseases which makes them even more dangerous when found in urban areas. Keeping your pets away from coyotes is crucial, otherwise, they may either be killed or get infected. Some of the diseases carried by coyotes can also pose a serious threat to human health.

Common Diseases Carried By Coyotes

As much as they can remind us of our lovely dogs, coyotes are dangerous to have around. A presence of a pack of coyotes near your home or workplace can put you, your family, and pets at risk. Here we present a list of common diseases that may be carried by coyotes.

RABIES

This is one of the most common, but also deadliest animal diseases. Rabies spreads extremely fast and, in some cases, can be fatal. This disease spreads mainly through saliva in bites, but can also be transmitted through a scratch. If a person or a pet is bitten by an aggressive coyote, health professionals should be contacted immediately.

HEARTWORM

Coyotes often serve as a host for canine heartworm, which is a common parasite for dogs and their wild relatives. It can also be transmitted to other animals or even humans, but it is less likely. The severity of the infection depends on its length but also on the number of worms in the host’s body.

Heartworm is transmitted from infected canine to a healthy one through a mosquito. This means that if there is a pack of coyotes near your home, your pets are at a very high risk of getting infected with this parasite.

Mange

There are different types of these diseases, but sarcoptic mange is the one associated with coyotes and their canine relatives. It is a debilitating disease transmitted by a mite that infects the animal by burrowing into their skin. Urban coyotes often serve as hosts to this pathogen and can spread it to pets, and rarely to people. However, the risk of transmission is quite low as it requires direct exposure to the infected coyote. An animal infected by mange typically loses most of its hair, succumbs to exposure, and becomes more vulnerable to other infections.

Signs Of A Sick Coyote

You can identify a sick coyote by observing their behavior and looks. Most common signs are:

scruffy look
loss of hair
reddened and teary eyes
infections visible on their skin
aggressive behavior

It is crucial to remember that diseases carried by coyotes can be very dangerous to you, your family, or pets. If you see a sick coyote, you should get away from it as quickly as possible and also consider calling animal control.