Coyote Attacks Family Dog In North Suburban Backyard: Video

NORTHFIELD, IL — A local dog is expected to make a full recovery after a backyard coyote attack that was caught on tape Wednesday. Boozer, a 14-pound cairn terrier had just stepped outside into the backyard of Vicky and Barnaby Dinges' Northfield home when a coyote came running by.

The coyote, appearing to be taken aback by the much smaller pet, briefly circles around Boozer before biting him on the face and dragging him around the yard.

The attack lasted only about eight seconds and was captured on the couple's home surveillance camera. They told WMAQ-TV they only decided to share the tape because Boozer is making a complete recovery from a series of injuries – including a sizable gash on his face that needed to be stapled closed.

"You look at that video and he is flatfooted in his backyard and minding his business and a very aggressive coyote came out of nowhere," Barnaby Dinges told the station. He warned other pet-owners to be aware of the danger from coyotes that are getting increasingly comfortable roaming the suburbs.

"[They're] beautiful to look at, but can do tremendous damage in about five seconds," he said.

The chief wildlife biologist for the county's forest preserves, Chris Anchor, told The Chicago Tribune the video appeared to show a "defensive attack." It is reproductive season for the coyote, he said, and it was defending its territory.

“If the coyote had wanted to kill that small dog, the dog would have been dead within seconds,” Anchor told the paper.

Related:

• Coyote Attack Suspected In Death Of Lake Forest Dog
• Coyote Kills Dog In Palatine Backyard
• 'Huge' Coyote Spotted In Lake View, North Center: Reports
• Deerfield Pet Dog Killed In Backyard Coyote Attack

Following the attack, the Village of Northfield issued the following safety alert:

As winter begins and food becomes more scarce, coyotes typically become more active. Most coyotes are non-aggressive and are just passing through, but some can be more aggressive and may challenge small dogs or cats. To help prevent coyote encounters, the Police Department encourages you not to leave small children or pets outside unattended, to store trash in tightly closed containers that cannot tip over, and to install motion-sensitive lighting around your house. Remember, fences do not prevent coyotes from entering yards because they can jump over or dig under them.

Watch the video:

Top photo via Youtube | Credit: Dinges Family, Forsyth Technologies