This Month . . .

All about Coyotes

Coyotes are being seen more and more in urban and suburban areas. The reasons are twofold: People are moving out into coyote habitat and coyotes are adapting to life around humans and moving into cities. They are drawn to places where they can find “easy pickings”. Human activities have provided an ideal situation where coyotes can find easy and convenient food sources including rabbits, mice, garbage and rarely, small dogs and cats.

Despite these potential conflicts, people live peacefully with coyotes nearby, often unaware of their presence. When one is seen, it may be simply passing through. Learning to live with the urban coyote seems to be the best answer. Unless they cause a specific problem, there is no reason to worry about coyotes, and every reason to appreciate their ability to coexist in an urbanized world.

Are coyotes dangerous?
As a rule coyotes are shy, cautious and non-confrontational. They will usually try to avoid humans. Coyotes certainly do humans more good than harm by helping establish balanced predator-prey populations. Problems arise when coyotes start to associate people with food – either because they are being fed intentionally or they find a food source close to humans – such as someone leaving out bread for other wildlife or an unsecured garbage can .

What do coyotes look like?
Coyotes look like a cross between a fox and a small German shepherd dog. They generally weigh between 15 and 40 pounds. Coyotes have bushy tails that they hold low when running. They have a narrow nose and relatively large ears. Coyotes can vary in color. Most often they are a grizzled gray on top, buffy brown down the sides and pale underneath

What do coyotes eat?
One of the keys to the coyote’s success is its diet. A true scavenger, the coyote will eat just about anything - snakes and foxes, rodents and rabbits, fruits and vegetables, birds, frogs, grass and grasshoppers, carrion, and garbage

I’ve seen a coyote near my home, should I be concerned?
If you see the coyote infrequently, it may just be passing through. Enjoy the experience and observe the coyote from a distance. Do not try to lure it closer with food.

If you continue to see coyotes near your home they have most likely found a food source close to you – either in your yard, in a neighbor’s yard or a house down the block from you.

Check your yard for the following food sources and talk with your neighbors about coyote food sources that may be in and around their yards. You will keep coyotes away from your yard by eliminating the following:
? Pet food kept outdoors. Store pet food indoors and feed pets indoors. If you have to feed your pet(s) outside, be sure to clean up any food.
? Accessible garbage bins and composts. Be sure garbage cans are on securely and cover compost bins.
? Fruit fallen from trees. Clean up any fallen fruit on the ground.
? Bird feeders where coyotes can reach the seed.
? Table scraps or bread left out for wildlife. Fencing will help discourage coyotes from entering your yard. The fence should be at least 6 feet high with the bottom extending at least 6 inches below ground level for best results. Make sure fences are flush to the ground and in good repair.

Will a coyote attack me or my family?
Coyotes are shy and secretive and usually do just about anything to avoid humans. They are a small animal - about 2 feet tall and weigh anywhere from 15 to 40 pounds. Problems arise when coyotes are being fed either intentionally or unintentionally. In the past few years, coyotes have bitten people in other parts of the U.S. (not in Minnesota) but this has occurred around an area where the animal was being fed. The chance of a coyote attacking a person is very low. To put things into perspective, only a handful of people are bitten by coyotes each year in the U.S. In comparison, 4.7 million people are bitten by domestic dogs every year according to the Center for Disease Control.

Will a coyote attack my dog?
Coyotes are only one risk facing the outdoor pet, you may want to consider making your dog an indoor animal. The most common conflict between coyotes and dogs is with cat-size or smaller dogs. To ensure your pet is safe do not leave your pet unattended outside. If you must leave your pet unattended, provide a secure space for your pet to exercise in.

While out with your dog(s), keep your dog(s) under your control and on a leash when outside. If your dog (of any size) is off leash, ensure your dog has immediate recall response, not only to eliminate potential contact or conflict with coyotes, but other dogs and people as well.

There have been reports of coyotes taking small dogs from not only the direct vicinity of their owner, but directly off the leash. If a coyote is sighted while walking your dog, make sure the dog is close to you and leave the area. You can also pick up your dog and carry it in your arms if possible. If your dog gets into a fight with a coyote, do not try to separate them with your hands. Use a long stick or throw something at the coyote.

Will a coyote attack my cat?
The only way of ensuring that your cat is safe from coyotes is to keep it indoors permanently. The more time your cat is outdoors the greater the risk it faces, not only from coyotes, but from other wildlife, cars, domestic dogs, illnesses and diseases as well.

Why should I not feed coyotes? Wild animals being fed by humans start to lose their natural fear of us and learn to associate people with food. These animals will start to approach people and become aggressive. Nearly all wild animal bites occur when people attempt to feed them or to treat them like domestic animals.

What should I do if a coyote approaches me or someone in my family?
Make sure you teach your children about animal safety and what to do if they should encounter various types of wildlife.

If you are approached by a coyote, try to appear as large and threatening as possible. If you are sitting, stand up. Raise you hands above your head and stomp your feet. Yell, throw rocks, sticks or other objects at the coyote, maintaining eye contact with the animal. This has proven to be the most successful way to scare off a coyote.

If the coyote does not run away, keep looking at the coyote and try to move towards an area with more people. Do not run – predatory animals are excited by something running and may instinctually give chase.

Resources: Co-Existing with Coyotes: http://www.stanleyparkecology.ca/programs/urbanWildlife/coyotes/

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