Coyotes normally don't come close to houses where I live, and skunks are usually noctural but it's possible either one could visit, especially if you don't have a fence. Visits from wildlife is one of the reasons I have a pond though. That famous saying "If you build it, they will come" applies to ponds more than just about anything else.

Our water features do attract wildlife. We are close to a large lake, but far enough away that the neighborhood raccoons, opossums, squirrels and birds come for a drink. I agree that a skunk or coyote would alarm me, but I don't mind sharing water with the wild creatures.

Maybe make some noise prior to stepping out after dark? I'm sure that they don't want to encounter a human either :-)

would be interesting to install a night camera

well, that's a good tip.

light colors in the desert southwest would be better than dark anyway. If you are interested in keeping fish, you need to make it VERY deep so they can get away from critters. Snakes like water too.

no snakes!

I have a small pond in the Dallas area. We have very hard water, but have never had any white calcium deposits even though our pond is tan in color. I wish it would attract more wildlife, but mostly it's stray cats. They keep the other critters away, I guess.