Coexisting with Wildlife

Coyotes can be drawn to residential areas in search of food. They can rifle through garbage and can be drawn to areas when fed by well-meaning, but misguided people.

While overreported, coyotes can attack farmed animals including cows and chickens, among others. They also occasionally attack companion animals. Attacks on humans are extremely rare but are not unheard of. According research published in 2016 by Californian scholars, there have been 367 attacks on humans by coyotes between 1977 – 2015, an average of 9 attacks per year across the United States and Canada.

Due to, often unfounded, fears of attacks on humans and children in particular, the simple sighting or presence of coyotes around human settlement can be considered nuisance. This is the case in the absence of the animals causing any harm.

Tightly secure garbage cans with bungee cords or rope. Store trash bins inside sheds, garages, or other enclosed structures.

Put garbage out the morning of pickup, not the night before.

When composting, use well-secured bins. Don’t add dog/cat waste, meat, dairy, or eggs.

Pick ripe fruit off trees and from the ground, do not store animal feed outside, and keep bird feeders from overflowing.

Fence vegetable gardens or use a greenhouse.

Eliminate artificial water sources and ponds.

Install motion-activated outdoor lighting.

Install motion-activated sprinkler systems. (And use a powerful garden water hose to scare away a seen coyote.)

Fence your property or yard. The fence must be at least 6’ tall with the bottom extending at least 6” below the ground and/or 1’ outward. Fences can be made more effective by outwardly overhanging the top of the fence or by using electric strands along the top and bottom.

Ensure vulnerable animals who live outside, such as chickens, are housed in secure spaces.

Clear bushes and dense weeds where coyotes may find cover and small animals to feed upon.

Close off crawl spaces under porches, decks, and sheds. Note: Trapping and relocating coyotes is not recommended (and is illegal in some areas). Disruption of coyote families can cause orphaned juveniles to seek easy prey, including small dogs and cats. Other coyotes are likely to move into the vacated area.

Never feed or attempt to “tame” a coyote.

Do not turn your back or run from a coyote.

If followed or approached by a coyote, make loud noises and make yourself look big.

If necessary, throw sticks or small stones (to scare, not injure).

Move toward active or populated areas.

Always keep yourself between a coyote and small children or companion animals.

If walking in coyote areas, carry a deterrent such as an airhorn, whistle, or walking stick.

Before the last ice-age, which ended around 12,000 years ago, coyotes and wolves were similar sizes. Since then, wolves have remained the same size and coyotes have become smaller. This is thought to be an evolutionary response to the diminished available prey for coyotes at that time.

Coyotes howl as a form of communication – to stay in contact with family members, as a warning, or to defend their territory. Their loud vocalizations can be heard up to half a mile away.

Coyotes appear in the cultural beliefs, oral storytelling, and wider history of many native American people. Often featured as a trickster, the coyote can be found in stories with moral teachings. For the Crow indigenous people, the coyote is a god-like figure who was responsible for the creation of humans.

Coyotes are more closely related to wolves than to domestic dogs and can mate with them. the species are closely enough related that they produce fertile offspring.