In a brutal late-night raid straight out of a desert survival show, coyotes in southwest Las Vegas cleared a seven- to eight-foot backyard wall and wiped out nearly an entire backyard flock, killing 20 of a homeowner's 25 chickens, according to the homeowner.
Homeowner Kristin Bartolo says the animals slipped into her coop through a small door that had been left open, then hauled birds back over the wall into a nearby empty desert lot. She is now reinforcing her setup and urging neighbors to tighten security on backyard animals and pets before the coyotes help themselves again.
Homeowner Shares Surveillance Footage
Bartolo shared her surveillance video with local reporters, saying the coyotes "took them out one by one" before dragging the birds into the lot. As reported by KTNV, the footage appears to show two to three coyotes slipping through the small open door, then returning multiple times to carry off chickens until most of the flock was gone.
Wildlife Officials: Coyotes Are Part Of The Landscape
State wildlife officials say scenes like this, while upsetting, are not exactly shocking in Nevada. Coyotes are common across the state and will take advantage of food, shelter or easy access in built-up neighborhoods if they find it. The Nevada Department of Wildlife recommends removing attractants such as outdoor food sources, supervising pets after dark, and using tools like taller fencing, coyote rollers and "hazing" techniques to keep coyotes from getting too comfortable around homes.
Local Sightings Add To Residents' Worries
Coyotes have been popping up on camera in multiple parts of the valley this year, adding to the nerves of pet owners who let animals roam in their yards. In March, FOX5 aired video of a coyote trotting near Cactus and Jones, and local stations say sightings like these are not rare as wildlife continues to move through and around developed areas.
How To Protect Backyard Flocks
Extension experts say that as development butts up against open desert, backyard flock owners need to think like predators when they build their coops. That means predator-proofing with sturdy wire, buried mesh or a perimeter "apron," secure latches and a covered run so birds cannot simply be snatched and carried away.
The University of Maryland Extension advises using hardware cloth instead of traditional chicken wire, burying fencing at least a foot into the ground and locking birds into a secure coop at night, when many predators are most active.
Bartolo told KTNV she had named each chicken and is devastated by the loss, but hopes her ordeal and the video will be a wake-up call for neighbors to check their coops and lock every door. Experts say layering multiple precautions, rather than relying on a single tall fence, offers the best shot at keeping determined predators on the other side of the wall.
