After being let into the yard on Oct. 1, a south Charlotte dog disappeared almost immediately, and her owner believes coyotes may have been involved.
The incident was reported in the Huntingtowne Farms neighborhood off Park Road, where coyote sightings have become a concern for nearby pet owners.
Here's what to know
Speaking to WBTV, Dan Millea said Luna went missing shortly after 8 p.m. on Oct. 1. He had just let her outside with another dog while he finished putting on his shoes.
By the time he came back out, he said, the other dog had returned to the porch from behind the shed, but Luna was nowhere to be found.
He said the disappearance was so quick that he heard nothing suggesting a struggle.
"I can't find my other dog. I don't see her. I didn't hear anything. I never heard any kind of yelp or an attack," he said, per WBTV. He spent three hours searching the neighborhood and said he found no fur or blood.
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Sightings in the neighborhood, including reports from the night Luna vanished, are why Millea believes coyotes were involved, he said.
He also said he saw two eyes above a fallen tree, and that his daughter had seen a coyote in their backyard that she estimated was about the size of a German Shepherd.
More background
The report came from a major Charlotte neighborhood, not a remote area, where letting a dog out for a few minutes is part of many residents' daily routine.
According to Millea, Luna disappeared during that short stretch when the dogs were outside alone.
Coyotes are indigenous to the area, but as homes, pets, and wild animals increasingly share the same spaces, routine moments can bring them into direct contact.
Pet owners in neighborhoods with coyote sightings may rethink when and how they let their animals outside, particularly after dark.
Millea said his family had already been trying to stay alert because they knew coyotes were in the area.
What can be done?
State and local agencies have limited roles in coyote reports.
WBTV reported that because coyotes are indigenous to the region, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission does not respond to sightings alone.
Charlotte Animal Care and Control will respond if a person or pet comes into contact with a wild animal, including when someone is wounded.
A report can be filed in those situations, but that does not mean the animal will necessarily be caught.
Residents dealing with a "nuisance wildlife problem" can contact a licensed trapper.
"I would love to see the ones that are attacking pets relocated, but there's going to be more," Millea said, adding that removing one animal would not put an end to neighborhood encounters.
Millea stressed the need to take action before there are more grave consequences. "So far it's been pets. What happens when it's a child? When does it cross the line? Hopefully you don't have to lose a pet to figure it out."
Where can I learn more?
Similar concerns have cropped up in other communities as coyotes turn up close to homes and pets. The articles cover rising sightings, aggressive encounters, and the steps residents have taken to protect animals and families.
• In Findlay, Ohio, police issued an urgent warning to residents after coyote sightings increased near pets.
• Near a Dallas trail, a coyote chased two children and deepened fears of bolder behavior.
• In California, coyotes killed seven goats, pushing one family to raise their fence.
• In Missouri, a coyote stalked residents near city parks and refused to back away.
• In New York City, urban coyotes showed unexpected behavior, underscoring how adaptable they are.
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