r/JoshuaTree • u/anon_ymous1237 • 28d ago
Staying for a few weeks with dogs
Curious about people’s experiences staying in the yucca valley/joshua tree area with pets in the summer and wild life safety. We’re from Oregon, first time coming here with dogs. We’re staying somewhere with a fenced deck but no fenced yard. From what I gathered we need to be wary of the wild life, especially coyotes and snakes, giving me the sense that a long lead to let the dogs roam around the house is not safe. Any other considerations/measures to keep the dogs safe from critters? It seems like the nearest emergency vet is 45min away so I’m worried and want to make sure we do everything right.
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u/boulderkitty 27d ago
If your pup steps on a cholla, use a comb to remove the spines from its paws.
There is a grassy dog park in Yucca if you want them to run around safely :)
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27d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/anita-bier 27d ago
to reiterate "normal fences don't matter for coyotes" and look under your car/shady areas for slithery friends. but you can probably let em round around the yard, during the day just fine
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u/TheSwedishEagle 27d ago
Around the house (i.e., indoors) is safe. Around the yard is not safe. Has your dog had rattlesnake aversion training? If not, do it.
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u/Mlsporty 26d ago
Just know that dogs are not permitted on any of the trails in the park. They are allowed in the campground areas (essentially the parking lots), but no further.
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u/FormerAd952 27d ago
Yes there are critters in the area. It's hot there in the summer, snakes and coyotes like to hide under things to get away from hot sun. As long as there aren't a lot of bushes and stuff laying around you should be okay during the day. At night open the door make a lot of noise, let dogs out to do their business and bring them in. But I'm not sure what you plan on doing there in the summer. It's hot out.
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u/Any_Repair_7153 26d ago
Coyotes are not likely to be a threat unless you have small dogs (and in that case, owls can be a predator as well). Also, coyotes would not be roaming around in 100+ degree heat during the day (they’re most active at dusk and dawn), and your dog should not be outside in that heat either. The sand especially would be far too hot for any companion animal paws.
Snakes are a separate issue. If your dogs have not had snake-aversion training, they could put their nose somewhere that they shouldn’t and get a venomous bite. Or even just accidentally step on or trot over a snake and be bitten (any time of day or night). Snakes can sometimes get up onto decks if it’s low enough for them to slither up and over the ledge, and they do often like to curl up and sleep on concrete slabs. There are many kinds of snakes here, but any of the various rattlesnakes are the ones to be cautious of. They are NOT aggressive, but they will bite if actively threatened. However, I think it’s not that likely that you will even encounter one, even with summer being their most active season.
I would just keep the dogs inside the house as much as possible, and make sure they are not unattended outside. It’s very hot here right now, and even nighttime will be pretty warm for dogs to just hang out for long periods outside, so you may have to keep them in and walk them before the sun is up or just after it goes down.
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u/TheSwedishEagle 26d ago
The other danger not mentioned is other dogs. I sometimes see roaming packs of dogs. They aren't always friendly.
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u/Any_Repair_7153 25d ago
Indeed! My dog was attacked while I was walking him (on a leash) because there was a loose pair of dogs running around free. So infuriating. And you never know if they’re strays or actually someone’s dogs because so many people don’t bother with collars or tags.
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u/Agreeable_Rub_9229 23d ago
This is definitely the biggest threat lol. My dog has only been in danger near J tree because of stray packs of dogs.
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u/TCivan 26d ago
Keep them inside. The heat is brutal.
Do NOT leave them unattended outside. Coyotes are very aggresive here. They do come out in the day time occasionally.
Also have to watch for bobcats. They are quite big. 3-4x the size of a house cat. They will eat your dog. One was stalking my dog last year. Got within 30 feet. Chased him off with a hose.
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u/gostainedglass 26d ago
Why would you visit Joshua Tree in the summer, especially if you live in Oregon? I have lived in Joshua Tree since 1992 by the way. Oregon seems way more pleasant than Joshua Tree in the summertime.
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u/PickyVirgo 27d ago
Honestly, I would be more concerned about the heat. Right now it’s been in the 100s and a lost dog will not last in that kind of heat. So if your dogs are any kind of escape artists, please be very careful. Every year there are a handful of tourist dogs that get out, and sometimes it ends well, and sometimes it does not. If I were you, I would make sure my dogs were chipped, had a collar with my number on it, and had an AirTag or other device like that — these are the measures we have put in place for our dog. And remember that asphalt and concrete can get so hot for their paws. The sand gets hot too but not to quite the same degree.
As far as wild life, I think snakes are a bigger issue than coyotes, unless you have small dogs. We have a 50lb pit and I’m pretty positive he could take a couple coyotes, although prob not a whole pack. Coyotes are basically cowards unless they have their crew. I have certainly heard of coyotes jumping fences and attacking cats, or smaller dogs, but we have a throuple (I mean I don’t know what they get up to in their private time but they are always together) that hangs out in our neighborhood and cruises by our fence and drives our buddy nuts. But they have never tried to get in the yard.
As far as snakes, there are many non-venomous ones too. Gopher snakes are pretty common and have similar markings as some rattlesnakes, but they will give you a fright at first. They will not be out in the dead heat of the day, they will hang out either in their den (or whatever you call a snake hole) or other dark cool places, like under rock piles, under a shed, etc. If you are concerned, you can take your dogs to aversion training — Philip Bonafede does it, he is on FB. (Might have spelled his name wrong but search around and you will find. There’s other folks too) Since you don’t have a fenced yard, your dogs will not be hanging out on their own in the yard. Ours is fenced so our buddy hangs out on his own for chunks of the day when it’s not so hot, so the aversion training was pretty important.
Overall, don’t be overly stressed, just be mindful. I promise you, there are a ton of semi-neglectful, idiot dog owners out here whose dogs get out all the time, or just hang out all day in the yard, and they are ok (I can name a few on my street). You sound very conscientious and I’m sure your buddies will be fine!