Here's Why Coyote Mating Season Could Kill Your Pet in Tri-Cities

Coyote mating season in the Mid-Columbia is dangerous to your pet and not because you could soon be the proud parents of half dog - half coyote pups. It's much more frightening than that. Coyotes in the Pacific Northwest mate from late January through March.

When coyotes go into mating season, they're gonna need food for that pregnant momma, and then of course the pups. Sadly, your dog or cat will feed several coyote pups.

And although you may only hear them once in a great while, coyotes live amazingly close to neighborhoods and have become less afraid of city life.

For 'Fears and Facts' and more click HERE.

In addition to males being more aggressive than normal this time of year, some observers have reported seeing females in heat acting as decoys to draw male dogs away from homes and farms to remote areas where the coyote pack is waiting to pounce and consume! Frightening stuff!

RANKED: Here Are the 63 Smartest Dog Breeds

Does your loyal pup's breed make the list? Read on to see if you'll be bragging to the neighbors about your dog's intellectual prowess the next time you take your fur baby out for a walk. Don't worry: Even if your dog's breed doesn't land on the list, that doesn't mean he's not a good boy--some traits simply can't be measured.