Coyote concerns grow in Summerlin community after attack

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — After a video of coyotes attacking a dog went viral on the Nextdoor app, one pet owner said coyotes are becoming a real problem in the Sun City East neighborhood of Summerlin near Lake Mead and Rampart boulevards.JK Proctor said coyotes jumped a fence in his front yard on Wednesday, Jan. 14, around 7 a.m. while letting his 16-year-old dog, Bently, out. He posted footage of the attack online, which he said happened quietly and within seconds. The footage showed Bently’s neck and head in the jaws of one of the two coyotes, before Proctor ran out and scared them off.“It was just a blur, I saw them come in, and then as you can see in the video, they were attacking my dog right here,” Proctor said.Bentley was not injured in the attack. Proctor said he was aware of coyote presence when he moved to the 55+ community four years ago. But he said the coyotes have gotten increasingly aggressive.“There’s a lot of people, women who are walking their little dogs every morning and evening. And we’ve noticed that the coyotes are starting to stalk them. And they won’t run when they blow the whistles anymore,” Proctor said. “You used to be able to blow a whistle or beat a pan or something and make them run off. But they’re getting braver and braver.”On Jan. 19, a woman named Rainna Davis also posted on the Nextdoor app about the rise in coyote problems in Sun City Summerlin North. “The amount of coyotes I have run off from my backyard is at an alarming rate. I’ve lived here since Oct. 21, and yesterday was 5 times,” her post read. “I’ve lived in Summerlin for over 20 years and have never seen it this bad.”According to the Department of Wildlife’s website, coyotes can jump fences between six and seven feet. Proctor said due to HOA rules in 55+ communities like his, it’s unlikely to raise fences that high or add coyote rollers. He believes it’s only a matter of time until a human has an ugly encounter with the coyotes.Proctor said he felt conflicted about efforts to remove coyotes roaming the area, due to them being in their natural habitat nearby.“I know they were here before us, and I feel sorry for them, because I’ve seen last summer one walking down the road here and out in the heat, and he was stumbling and hungry,” he said. “You know, it just breaks your heart to see them suffer.”But he said their behavior is getting out of hand.“It’s getting really bad. They’re starting to get more and more aggressive. And I think somebody’s going to get bit and pretty soon attacked,” Proctor said. “I think there’s only one option available, and that’s to exterminate them. I don’t like the idea of it at all, but I don’t see any other option.”Removing coyotes is rarely an option, according to an informational page about coyotes on the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s website, which said:“Removal of coyotes is not a long-term solution. If there is habitat in your neighborhood, coyotes will be in the area. Even if every single coyote was removed, more would quickly come into the area…Coyotes are very territorial and dependent on their home ranges. After being relocated, they will do just about anything to get back home where they are familiar with the resources (this includes crossing roadways, exposure to elements, lack of food and water) – this is both dangerous for the animal, and counter-effective for the neighborhood.”In a statement to 8 News Now, regional public information and education supervisor for the Nevada Department of Wildlife, C. Douglas Nielsen, said:When it comes to managing coyotes, we generally recommend a combination of removing attractants, excluding them from specific areas, and consistent hazing. The worst thing people can do when they see a coyote is nothing. By doing nothing, we are hanging out a welcome sign and saying make yourself at home. We need to make them uncomfortable, and that is where hazing comes in. We encourage people to haze them actively and consistently. Attractants can include food left outside for pets, fallen fruit from trees, or even quiet, shady areas that offer shelter. Eliminating these attractants is an important first step in discouraging coyote presence.Exclusion techniques may involve installing coyote rollers on the tops of fences or walls. These devices prevent coyotes from gaining a foothold and pulling themselves over. Motion-activated lights or sprinklers can also help deter coyotes, particularly if they are frequenting the area during nighttime hours.Hazing should be done whenever a coyote is seen to prevent them from becoming habituated to humans. This involves using deterrent actions such as making loud noises, throwing objects, spraying with a hose, or anything else that creates a negative experience for the animal. The goal is to teach the coyote that being in a particular area leads to unpleasant consequences. If there are no food sources and they are routinely hazed, they are much less likely to remain in or return to that area.For pet safety, dogs should always be walked on a short leash to keep them close and prevent tangling, especially with retractable leashes. Carrying an umbrella can also be a useful tool—popping it open can startle a coyote and create both a visual and physical barrier. Pets should never be left outside unattended, particularly during dawn and dusk when coyotes are most active.If there is a significant public safety risk, the Nevada Department of Wildlife tells the public to reach out to wildlife officials. But even then, each case is different according to Nielson.“There is no hard & fast rule on when someone should call to report an interaction with a coyote or other wildlife. Every situation and every person are unique,” Nielsen said. “If someone is uncomfortable going about their daily life, they may want to report their concern. We will evaluate each report based on its own merit and determine what the appropriate response should be. Generally, education and information are sufficient in most circumstances. Sometimes a physical response is merited, but not very often.”Anyone concerned about coyotes in their area can call the Nevada Department of Wildlife dispatch center at 1-800-992-3030 or its Las Vegas office at 702-486-5127.Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.