Top Ten Wild Animals that Attack House Pets
This week, VPI Pet Insurance released the results of a survey in which they analyzed bite wounds from attacks and determined the top ten animals that attack house pets.
The release of the survey coincided with the publication of a story about Ozzy Osbourne being devastated by the death of his favorite dog–a Pomeranian named Little Bit (right)–who was killed by a coyote in his own backyard in Los Angeles.
Note that the survey only covers bite wounds. The nature of the study does not include data on pets that disappeared after being consumed by predators. Thus, bobcats, birds of prey, and other predators–which may pose a bigger threat to you, depending on your location–are not on the list.
Top 10 Wild Animals That Attack Pets
Nation’s Largest Pet Insurer Reveals Claims Data on Animal Attacks
BREA, Calif., July 20 /PRNewswire/ — Sometimes our pets go looking for a fight, but other times the fight comes to them–from land, sea, and even air. Veterinary Pet Insurance Co. (VPI), the nation’s oldest and largest provider of pet health insurance, recently reviewed more than 500 laceration/bite wound claims in search of animal-inspired incidents to determine which wild animals most frequently attacked and injured companion pets in 2008. In addition to the usual suspects–snakes, coyotes and raccoons–VPI received claims for pet injuries caused by a squirrel, scorpion, javelina, porcupine, ground hog, skunk, rat, goat, beaver, woodchuck, black bear, mountain lion, hawk, rabbit, sea urchin, and jellyfish. Following are the 10 animals aside from dogs and cats that were most responsible for pet injury claims in 2008:
Top 10 Animals To Attack Pets
—————————–
1. Snake
————-
2. Coyote
————-
3. Raccoon
————-
4. Squirrel
————-
5. Scorpion
————-
6. Javelina
————-
7. Porcupine
————-
8. Ground Hog
————-
9. Skunk
————-
10. Rat
————-Wild animal attacks typically result in pet insurance claims for treatment of lacerations, bite wounds, puncture, and soft tissue trauma. Snakebites may require antivenin and scorpion stings may cause allergic reactions requiring antihistamines. Treatment protocols vary depending on the severity of the attack and costs can range from hundreds of dollars for bandages or stitches to thousands of dollars for surgery for damaged organs or broken limbs.
Though animal attack claims came from all areas of the country, javelina and scorpion claims were exclusive to the state of Arizona. Javelinas, or peccaries, are feral pig-like omnivores native to the southwestern United States. They have been known to viciously attack both pets and people. For a detailed account of a javelina attack on a VPI-insured pet, visit http://press.petinsurance.com/pressroom/267.aspx.
“Whether in urban or rural areas, pet owners should be aware of the danger posed by wild animals,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “VPI’s data reveals that not all members of the animal kingdom observe backyard fences, or appreciate the curiosity of a pet that may enter their territory. Always make sure that a pet’s rabies vaccine is up to date and if you know that potentially dangerous wild animals are present, or you’re in an unfamiliar area, take extra care to keep your pet close and secure.”
[IMAGES: USAToday, DreamDogs.co.uk]
I’ve never heard of a javelina. And after reading that story, I sure wouldn’t like to meet one.
Hi Skeezy, A very interesting article and quite informative.
Cool article! Coyotes are super dangerous! One killed Fuzzy and 2 other kittys here.
The Racoonies and Possums are friends with Shadow and they don’t bother each other.
Meows still wishes Shadow would give up his feral life and move inside ..sigh…….
Unfortunately, human beings are the animals most dangerous to house pets =(
The raccoons and possums around here are friendly to the feral cats, just like those in Morgan’s neighborhood. Mama raccoon just brought her three babies to eat at our porch bowl, and they are being taught to respect the cats just as she does. Baby possum, now grown, was taught by his mama to eat at the same time and out of the same bowl as the cats. He still will share the bowl sometimes, but prefers to wait at a polite distance until the cat(s) is/are done, then approach and eat.
One of the families we just adopted a kitten to had an awful story about a coyote, though. She had let her former cat go outside, something she is NOT going to do with the new kitten! The cat was exploring the boundaries of his yard, and a coyote got him. She was away for the weekend, and her roommate thought the cat had come back inside when the roommate’s boyfriend came in. When the lady got back, she asked where her cat was, turned the house upside down, and called someone to investigate. They found the cat’s body, obviously mangled and half-eaten, and determined the cause of death was a coyote.
I live in the California desert area, and Coyotes are very close to the confines of the trailer park where I live. I have observed them within the park at night, mostly in the winter months, and I worry about my neighbor’s poodles, because he has the “false” sense of security, having a fenced-in yard. A Coyote could easily jump the fence. Other neighbors allow their Cats outdoors, as well.
My 4 Cats have been indoor pets for their entire lives, the eldest is 15 yrs “young”. My longest-lived cat was 16-1/2.
My sister also lives near the Mts here in the desert, and her problem is with the raccoons eating her outside Cats’ food. They come in the trailer park where she lives, because they know its “easy” meals, there.
Once, years ago, in the city of Pasadena, Calif. I also observed a Coyote running down a suburban street, with a small dog in its mouth, right in the city!
Oh, I forgot to add, that the raccoons have even come through my Sister’s doggie-door, and into the bathroom, during the night time!
Yep, coyotes are brave. They adapted really well to living with humans so they are liable to be anywhere.
A few years ago around DFW somebody had a big cat as a pet that got loose and of course, they didn’t report it (a panther or cougar or something like that). It was jumping fences and taking small dogs and cats!
Another case of an irresponsible human being the most dangerous animal.
Oh and PS. Some raccoons get really tame and do co-exist peacefully with outdoor cats. But keep an eye on them for rabies!
coyotes are known to actually CLIMB fences, so even a ten-foot fence may not be enough. one of my grandpa’s neighbors has a coyote that they found as a pup (it couldn’t even see or walk yet) and they had to put a top on the ten-foot fence they had her in because she was trying to climb out. and she does really good with the other animals, she thinks she’s a domestic dog. the only thing i know of her attacking was a possum that the woman of the house found getting the pet pigeon’s eggs. the coyote pulled the possum through the chain-link fence and ripped it up, even though it was already dead.
Wait a sec.
What kind of specist jernalism is this? Why no mention of the thret of Vishus Deer? More specist media bias, I’m tellin ya. (Or maybe the writer wuz on the take!)
I had a dog once that killed a huge raccoon in our yard. He was a brave, stout dog. But raccoons and any of those animals are nothing to mess with. That’s really scary though.
Wow, very informative!
Brady was recently sprayed by a skunk. He came over to me coughing and choking. He was spitting and vomiting, I thought he was choking. Until, I the smell hit me. I hosed him down right away, to help stop the burning. He was sprayed directly in the face, right in his eyes.
We created a mixture to wash him with, it helped.
I can still smell the skunk spray when I give him a bath. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to bring him to get a skunk bath/treatment because of his allergies. I didn’ want to take a chance that he might be allergic to whatever they use.
-Watch out for those skunk guys.:/ They may be fun to chase but they sure are nasty!
A javelina!? LOL. Call me a Yankee, but I had no idea what that was. I googled it…wow, that thing could definitely kill my dog on sight, it’s that ugly. If that thing came after my dog, I’m not sure I could defend him. I’d try, but wow, I’d likely lose that battle. Good jeebus!
Just so happens that yesterday our Labrador Retriever (Sunshine) was sitting on the other side of the fence. I went to see what she was doing and there lies a dead skunk. Sunshine has a cut on her foot and that is her only injury. This skunk was huge…
Yes, make sure your animals stay away from these animals. I’ve never heard or seen a Javelina but i google imaged it and they look pretty scary to me! I make sure my dog stays away from all wild animals to prevent attacks. We have a lot of deer, some coyotes, not any snakes in our area, no porcupines, a lot of raccoons etc. I never knew a squirrel, rat, or ground hog could attack an animal! Well, i guess if the house pet is cornering it or trying to bother it.
Rats are pretty mean, well actually mice can be just as bad. Once I had this dog named Pete and he was sleeping on the deck and all of a sudden this mouse charge in to him as hard as he could and ran. At first I though he got bit because he was screaminh and yelping, but I check him out so either he got hit in the nose or was startled. Sadly for the mouse he got shot. We tried to trap him, but had no luck. He was trying to get in the house. I have never heard of a squirrel attacking a pet usally it’s the pet who attacks the squirrel. Redd ate a squirrel once. She was on a leash in the back yard and broke it, took off and swallowed the squirrel whole with a few crunches. Pretty sad though. I have some crazzzy stories about my dogs eating wild animals. I really hate when they do it because who knows what they got.
Javelina? Down in Texas/Arkansas we call them HOGS. My breeder had a bunch of hunting dogs that he would go out and get hogs with. They are nothing to mess with though. And raccoons…they hang around where I live. That’s why mom brings me inside at night, because until I am bigger they would probably try to hurt me, but they don’t seem to mess with the cats that stay outside. We had one get in our backyard once and it takes A LOT of dog to kill a raccoon.
hi skeezy i found one thing funny about your list. they all live where i do mol!
Down here in south FL, we have these huge toxic Bufo Marine Toads. Toxic if eaten by animals, their skin secretions are deadly. Bufo Toads don’t attack. Dogs are prone to play, pounce on, & mouth the 6-inch toads. Have a hose ready to rinse the mouth but not swallow. Time is crucial. Get to a vet ASAP & pray.
We know a min pin who was attaced by a “deer” – the deer stomped him then held him down with his feet and bit him all over his back!! Be careful little pups!! If I was there I would have helped my friend but i wasn’t. Now he has scars on his back….
Hi, I live in Northern Ontario, Canada. One day my Pomeranian sister didn’t come home for dinner. She came home just before bed-time and was leaning up against the door. Mom picked her up and realized she was hurt. Mom found out that it was a hawk that had picked her up from the ground and then dropped her because she was too heavy. My sister was parlyzed from this accident. I miss her.
That list is a bunch of hogwash. Where are the coyotes? or the bobcats or the mountainlions? I live in a rural city and we have all three and lose small pets and livestock regularly. And we even have had bears come down to here.
If you know there are coyotes in your area be smart enough not to let you pet out unspervised!!!
Are we the world’s cutest dogs?
Hello Everyone,
In this pic Mocha, Pecan, Swiss Chocolate and Chocolate are 5 weeks old. They are just really starting to develop their different personalities and I am realizing I definately have my hands full. Full of furry balls of joy that I like to call shades of cudley. It took me awhile to get them all settled and watching me at the same time so that I could get the picture….the result was sooooo cute that I wanted to share it with all of you.
The question proposed is: Is one of us the world’s cutest dog? Ask your friends. U decide.
Vote for us every week at:
http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/vote.cfm?h=4A7B37492C5289803AE0069C71C59A74