Some Colorado families want town to take action in response to wildlife attacks on pets

Families in the Colorado town of Erie are calling for town officials to take action over an increase in coyote and possible mountain lion attacks, including deadly ones, on pets — sometimes in the families' own backyards.

Everybody who met Sage loved her. Neighbors knew her well. For Erica Carrico and her two children, the mini Australian shepherd was family.

"She was just full of so much love and kisses," Carrico said.

"She was so happy, and she took care of us," she continued. "She was my kids' emotional support dog. She got them through some really challenging times. She was like my third child. Literally part of our family."

Last month, Carrico let the 3-and-a-half-year-old dog into the backyard.

"I turned on the lights, let her outside, and left the glass door open so I could hear anything," Carrico said. "She was out there for six minutes."

Carrico said Sage was taken over the backyard fence: "I told my son to call her in. I heard him call her name twice."

In those six minutes, Sage was gone.

Carrico called her partner, who searched the nearby golf course with a flashlight.

"That's where he found a trail of blood," she said. "It eventually led to her."

Carrico said her partner found Sage's body in pieces. She believes the dog was killed by a wild animal.

"It was awful. It was honestly so traumatizing," Carrico said. "We cried every day for almost a month."

Carrico said a veterinarian told her that the attack was likely caused by a mountain lion.

"It's not just coyotes, it's cats," she said.

Carrico said police told her it was the fifth attack in six weeks that's believed to involve a mountain lion.

A spokesperson for Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the agency has not confirmed any mountain lion attacks on pets or people in Erie in 2025. They did say they've received 10 reports of coyote activity in the Erie area since Sept. 1, which is more than in years past.

Neighbors in the area have also been losing pets to coyotes.

"I think we counted 11 kills in Erie out of people's backyards in the last four to five weeks," Carrico said.

In nearly eight years of living in the neighborhood, Carrico said she has never seen this many attacks.

"I was always mindful of it, but this year it's been unusually bad," she said. "They're coming closer. It's more frequent. They're getting really brave."

Carrico and her neighbors want action.

"Whenever we talk to the city, they say unless an animal hurts a child, there's nothing they can do," she said. "It's frustrating. We live in a beautiful community, and we can't even use our own backyards."

Carrico said she wants wildlife captured or relocated to help protect pets and children: "I pay to live here, and now I can't even use my backyard."

Carrico's family is still grieving Sage's loss.

"We have her little memorial over here," she said.

But the family recently welcomed a new dog, Maple.

"We just wanted to bring that love and life back into our house," Carrico said. "We got her two weeks ago. I don't think I've cried since."

Maple is a larger Australian shepherd, but Carrico said she won't risk letting her play outside.

"We have a little porch potty if she needs to go," she said. "We don't play in the backyard anymore."

Carrico said Colorado Parks and Wildlife told her there is little they can do, but encouraged residents to report activity.

CPW says shrinking habitat, fewer prey sources and large developments in Erie could be contributing factors.

Erie police released the following statement about the situation:

The Erie Police Department would like to take a moment to address recent concerns and questions regarding coyotes in our community.
First and foremost, we want to acknowledge and express empathy for the residents who have experienced recent incidents involving pets. We understand how upsetting and stressful these situations can be, and we appreciate the community members who have shared their experiences with us.
We'd like to provide some clarity about how animal-related concerns are handled in Erie. The Police Department has one dedicated Animal Control Officer, and all sworn officers are also authorized to act in an animal control capacity when needed. However, it is important to understand that the Erie Police Department is not equipped to handle wildlife, including coyotes.
Coyotes are considered wildlife, and the best resource for coyote-related concerns is Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW).
CPW asks to be contacted only if a coyote is behaving aggressively or has attacked a person or a pet. There is no need to notify CPW or the Erie Police Department about coyote sightings or non-aggressive encounters, as these are common and expected in Erie and Colorado.
There are effective ways to minimize conflicts with coyotes. We strongly encourage residents to review the guidance available on:
o The Town of Erie's Animal Services webpage under the Coyote tab: https://www.erieco.gov/255/Animal-Services
o Colorado Parks and Wildlife's Living with Coyotes resources: https://cpw.state.co.us/living-coyotes
These resources include practical steps such as responsible pet ownership, supervising pets outdoors, removing attractants, and understanding coyote behavior. Taking these steps—and encouraging your neighbors to do the same—plays a critical role in keeping pets, people, and wildlife safe.
The Erie Police Department remains connected and in communication with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and we will continue to follow along as CPW rolls out an educational campaign in the coming months, including information about February being coyote mating season in Colorado.
Thank you for being proactive, informed, and considerate neighbors. By working together and following proven guidance, we can reduce conflict and continue to safely coexist with wildlife in our community.

CPW offered the following tips for anyone living in Colorado to coexist with coyotes while still protecting pets:

• Coyotes are active year-round and become more visible during their breeding season in January through March.
• They're especially active at dawn and dusk, and may travel alone or in groups.
• Keeping pets' vaccines up to date will keep them safe from infectious diseases wildlife may carry.
• Pet owners should always keep their pets on a leash, even in open spaces.
• Never let your pet interact with wildlife. Coyotes are opportunistic hunters.
• Keep human-associated food access to garbage, pet food, bird feeders, and compost piles away and promptly report anyone illegally feeding wildlife.
• Motion-activated floodlights or sound devices can help deter wildlife.
• We'd ask anyone who does have a pet encounter a coyote to contact us as soon as possible.