Coyotes are fascinating creatures that once weren’t found east of the Mississippi River. However, during the last century or so, they’ve expanded their range across North America. “It’s likely due to habitat changes, as well as the fact that competitors, such as eastern red wolves, have been removed from the landscape,” says Michel Kohl, PhD, Certified Wildlife Biologist, wildlife extension specialist and associate professor of wildlife management at the University of Georgia. “They’re one of the few large carnivores in North America, and they do well in close proximity to people.”
While you may think spotting a coyote (Canis latrans) in your neighborhood is rare, it’s actually not uncommon. “Coyotes are adaptable to whatever environment they come across,” says Sheldon Owen, PhD, wildlife extension specialist at West Virginia University. “They carve out a niche for themselves, even in an urban setting.”
The greatest risk with coyotes is that they can carry diseases that are transmissible to people and pets, says Kohl. That includes canine distemper, parvo, and fleas, ticks and the mites that cause mange. Like all mammals, coyotes also can carry rabies, but it’s a small number: Less than 1.5 percent of all wildlife rabies cases are associated with coyotes.
Generally, coyotes are not an issue for homeowners and prefer to steer clear of us. “The most common call we get about coyotes is people saying, ‘I saw a coyote in my back yard,’” says Owen. “That could be an issue, especially if you have small pets. But most potential negative interactions are entirely preventable.”
Meet The Expert
-
Michel Kohl, PhD., is a Certified Wildlife Biologist, wildlife extension specialist and associate professor of wildlife management at the University of Georgia.
Identifying Coyotes
As part of the same genus as domestic dogs, coyotes may resemble a dog from a distance. In fact, they’re roughly the size of a medium dog, weighing about 30 to 35 pounds and about 36-inches tall at the shoulders. They’re very lean-looking and have a bushy tail that’s held out at downward sloping angle, says Owen.
Coyote coloring can range from a mottled grey to reddish or all black. In the South, there’s a higher percentage of all black coats, says Kohl. Coyotes tend to be most active at dusk and dawn, but it’s also normal to see them occasionally during the day and doesn’t mean they are rabid, says Kohl.
Packs may consist of a mated pair and sometimes few young pups. You’re most likely to see coyotes in the spring when the pups are learning to hunt, and in the fall, when the teenagers are out searching for their own territories, says Owen.
It’s also possible you may hear them at night, rather than see them. Coyotes vocalize to defend their territories and for inter-pack communication. In fact, they have some of the most complex and varied vocalization abilities in the animal kingdom. “It can sound like a pack of coyotes but actually may only be two or three,” says Kohl.
Understanding Coyotes
With a keen ability to adapt to their environment, coyotes have a generalist diet. While they do hunt small mammals, including rabbits, mice, voles, small dogs and cats, they’ll also eat dead animals, pet food, and trash, as well as berries, grass, and vegetation, says Kohl. They are often solitary when hunting or foraging but can hunt as a pack, too.
Coyotes breed in late winter to early spring with pups born in late spring in an average of five per litter. They den in places such as under fallen logs and in thick brush or rock piles. They typically don’t like to den close to our homes, however, like other animals such as a groundhog or raccoon might do under a shed or crawlspace. Depending on competition for food, these animals maintain a territory of several square miles in an urban setting and a larger area in a more rural setting.
What To Do If You See a Coyote In Your Yard
Most negative interactions with coyotes can be avoided, if you follow these tips from Kohl and Owen:
-
Be aware that coyotes are part of our landscape, even in cities. As coyotes expand their territories, you may encounter these animals in your yard or garden. “Have an awareness that they can be out there, even in a neighborhood setting,” says Owen.
-
Keep your dog on leash when walking them, especially at dawn and dusk. Coyotes will attack small dogs, though attacks on medium and large dogs are uncommon, says Kohl.
-
Watch pets when outdoors, even in a fenced area. Coyotes are good climbers and can scale a 6-foot fence, says Owen.
-
Don’t allow cats to roam. Research has found that both domestic and feral cats are food sources for coyotes, says Kohl.
-
Make sure chicken coops and livestock are protected. If using fencing, an electric wire at the top and bottom of fencing can discourage coyotes but won’t harm them, says Owen.
-
Use hazing techniques to chase a coyote out of your yard. If you see a coyote passing through, bang pots and pans, yell, or use an air horn to scare it off. They typically are skittish and will flee. A startling device, such as a motion-activated water sprinkler, also may work. “The goal is to keep them afraid of us,” says Kohl.
-
Forget about repellants or essential oils. These have questionable or no effectiveness, says Owen. In fact, the coyote may just pee on any scent repellants you use.
-
Contact your state’s local wildlife agency if you have concerns about a frequent visitor. If you have livestock or chickens that are disappearing, if you see a coyote frequently on your property, or if you encounter a coyote that seems to have lost its fear of humans, you may need to have it removed. “If you’re yelling at it and the coyote is still standing there looking at you, that’s a situation we don’t want occurring,” says Kohl.
Will Coyotes Attack My Dog?
Interactions with pets do occur, though the outcomes are varied and unpredictable. While coyotes will attack smaller dogs, attacks on medium or large dogs are uncommon. “Social hierarchy is part of the canid world, so coyotes will pick on little dogs but are unlikely to do so with big dogs because they know it’s probably a contest they can’t win,” says Kohl.
In cases where people have reported a pack of coyotes have lured a larger dog into the woods, it’s more likely that the dog is being territorial and chasing the coyote. However, once the dog enters the wooded area, the coyote’s pack mates naturally will defend it, says Kohl.
Are Coyotes Dangerous?
Most of the time, coyotes stay out of our way. “But it depends on how they have been interacting with people,” says Kohl. “Although coyote attacks on people are rare, most of the time they’re traced back to the fact that a human has been feeding a coyote so the animal has become habituated to us.”
Fortunately, if you spot a coyote, it’s likely just passing through and isn’t interested in you.
“The biggest risk coyotes pose to our lives is the potential disease transmission to our pets,” says Kohl. To protect your animals, make sure that all of their vaccines are up-to-date and that you regularly use preventives to protect your pets against heartworm, fleas and ticks.
Read the original article on Southern Living
Source link
