Bobby Bones is opening up about a frightening wildlife encounter that left his dog, Eller, injured after a coyote attacked her in the yard of their home.
The country music radio host and Dancing with the Stars champion addressed the incident publicly on Monday, August 3rd, waiting several days before speaking out to make sure Eller had stabilized. His patience paid off — Bones confirmed she is now “back to pretty normal” and doing “good.” Bones and his wife, Caitlin, also have a second dog named Stanley.
How the Attack Unfolded
Bones explained that a wooded area adjacent to their property has become home to a mother coyote and her pups. When Eller came running out of the trees one day behaving strangely, Bones initially feared she had been bitten by a snake. It was only hours later, after she began limping and Caitlin spotted the adult coyote in the yard, that the couple connected the dots. Bones texted a veterinarian friend and ultimately took Eller in for care after noticing she “couldn’t use her leg.”
He later shared video footage on Instagram showing the coyote standing close to the house, apparently near a pool. Bones attempted to drive the animal off, going so far as to mimic the “beep beep” of the Road Runner from the Looney Tunes cartoons — a reference to Wile E. Coyote’s long-suffering rival. The coyote held its ground without flinching.
On his radio show that same Monday, Bones elaborated further, noting that the coyotes have essentially claimed the property as their own territory. Rather than let his dogs roam freely, he has been keeping them close to the house to reduce any risk of another encounter. He was clear about how he wants the situation resolved: “I don’t want them to kill the coyotes. I want them to come and trap them and take them and release them somewhere else.”
Protecting Dogs From Coyotes
For pet owners facing similar wildlife pressures, the American Kennel Club recommends never leaving dogs outside without supervision. A coyote-proof fence should stand at least six feet tall and extend at least 18 inches underground, with barbed wire or PVC pipe added along the top to prevent animals from scaling it. Motion-sensor lighting is another effective deterrent, as the AKC notes it causes most coyotes to flee. Training dogs to reliably respond to a recall command is also considered essential, giving owners a reliable way to bring their pets to safety if a coyote appears.
With Eller on the mend and Bones actively seeking help relocating the coyote family, fans who have followed the situation closely will be watching for updates on both Eller’s recovery and whether a humane relocation can be arranged.
