A pack of coyotes killed 20 of a southwest Las Vegas homeowner’s 25 backyard chickens overnight, and the location has renewed safety warnings for valley dog owners.

The attack happened near Jones Boulevard and Sahara Avenue, well inside an established neighborhood rather than on the edge of town, reports KTNV.

Surveillance video showed two to three coyotes clearing a fence of roughly seven to eight feet, then carrying the birds one by one over the wall into an empty desert lot.

The homeowner said her larger worry is that the animals are venturing further into neighborhoods, putting more pets at risk.

The concern for dog owners is direct. Coyotes readily prey on small dogs, and the homeowner said she has heard of them arriving in groups of three or four and killing people’s dogs.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife describes coyotes as opportunistic hunters that follow easy food and water into residential areas. They are most active from dusk to dawn, and they can scale a six-foot block wall with little trouble.

That combination makes small dogs especially vulnerable in Las Vegas, Henderson, and North Las Vegas, where suburban blocks back directly onto open desert and washes.

Homes near golf courses, drainage channels, and the edges of master-planned communities sit closest to coyote territory.

The most effective protection is supervision. Small dogs should never be left alone in a yard, particularly overnight or in the early morning, and they should stay leashed and close on walks.

Owners who encounter a coyote should make themselves loud and threatening, a practice wildlife officials call hazing.

Yelling, waving your arms, spraying a hose, or popping open an umbrella can all break a coyote’s comfort and drive it off.

Removing attractants matters just as much. Uncovered trash, fallen fruit, pet food left outdoors, and water sources like dripping sprinklers all draw coyotes closer to homes.

Nevada wildlife officials generally do not remove coyotes simply for being seen in a neighborhood or for attacking free-roaming pets.

Wildlife Services steps in mainly when an animal shows aggression toward people, so day-to-day prevention falls largely on residents.

This is a seasonal reality of desert living rather than a one-time event.

As our guide to whether a Chihuahua is a good dog for Nevada notes, coyotes patrol valley neighborhoods year-round, and a small dog left alone in a yard is a target.

The risk is not limited to backyards or city streets. Dog owners heading onto public land should also review our reporting on cyanide predator-control devices that can harm pets before their next desert outing.

Residents with coyote concerns can contact the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s Las Vegas office at 702-486-5127, or its dispatch line at 1-800-992-3030. An aggressive animal that threatens people should be reported right away.