BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — A Green Country family is looking for answers after a member of their family was taken from them.
One of their family dogs, Bear, was stolen from their fenced-in backyard by a coyote. Their fence is six feet high with no gaps or spaces.
“It was literally three or four minutes from the time that we let him out," said Bobbi, the matriarch of the house. “He just literally came over, snatched him and went back over."
When they went after the wild animal, they found Bear with multiple puncture wounds on both of his sides.
"We were told we needed to put him down," said Bobbi.
Bear, had been with the family for 14 years.
"He was born in this house," said Mike, the patriarch.
"He was the most human-like and sweetest dog we ever had," said Hayli, one of the daughters in the family. "He just wanted to be pet and cuddled with and loved on all the time."
The Broken Arrow family is now down to one dog that they are desperate to protect.
"I mean what are we supposed to do," said Bobbi. "The fence is six feet high, you would think that should be enough."
Wildlife expert from the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife, Colin Berg, says rats, mice, and cottontail rabbits are the coyotes' main meal, but it’s not uncommon for pets to be a target.
“They are an opportunistic animal so if the opportunity presents itself they might try to catch a cat or a dog in someone’s back yard," said Berg. "That's just the kind of animal they are."
Berg also says coyotes will wonder into communities more often this time of year.
“They are moving a bit more because they are having to find a bit more food to survive throughout the winter time," said Berg.
To protect your pets, Berg says there are a few key things you can do.
"Don't let those pets outside by themselves," said Berg. "Also, if you feed your cats or dogs outside don’t leave scraps out there because if your cat or dog doesn’t clean it up then that’s going to invite coyotes."
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