I live at the very edge of a small town; the cornfields are just beyond the next street. At night, I can often hear coyotes in the distance. No one in this little subdivision have fenced their yards; we like it open like this. My dogs are strictly indoor dogs and never go out unattended. There are regular sightings in the neighborhood of creatures like deer, coon, skunk (no sightings on that one, but you don't need to see them to know they're around) and so the only dog in this neighborhood who is ever left outside alone could probably eat two coyotes for breakfast and still want more.

A number of years ago, a couple I know here had a beautiful little dog (I don't remember the breed) but the gentleman was an auctioneer and realtor, and this dog almost never left his side. (I know, you don't really expect to find a dog at a real estate closing, but Buddy was there when I sold my condo almost eighteen years ago.) He was one of the friendliest, most mild mannered and well behaved dogs I have ever known. The couple who owned him had a cabin out in the country in addition to their house in town, and one day a group of coyotes came around, and being the friendly soul he was, Buddy approached them with out fear and was killed quite quickly. The woman was unable to save him.

This was the only time I have ever seen a death notice in a newspaper for a dog, but so many people in town knew him that it really wasn't all that surprising.

So yes, here in rural Iowa its definitely something to watch out for.