Coyotes are known for avoiding people. This is true even with their habitats are situated in urban and suburban areas. However, potential food and water sources are known to attract coyotes into residential neighborhoods.
Examples include pet and water bowls that are left outdoors, compost bins, homemade ponds, and even trash bins. If food and water sources are not made readily available for these creatures, the visits will be rare.
If they do occur, it will only be a brief visit. In this guide, you will learn effective and very simple techniques that will help in preventing conflicts with coyotes.
Quite Rare
Encounters between people and coyotes are actually considered to be quite rare – especially in urban and the suburban environment. Coyotes are nocturnal creatures and are rarely observed by people. If an encounter does occur and the coyote seems frightened, this is natural.
If the coyote does not seem frightened, it typically indicates that they have become accustomed to people. In most instances, this type of habituation only occurs when the coyote has been fed -be it intentionally or unintentionally.
If this is the case, hazing techniques or certain types of scare tactics may be used to help in reinstalling the creature’s natural fear of people.
What Attracts Coyotes?
In most instances, food sources, water sources, potential shelter spots, pets that are allowed to roam freely, and community colonies of cats attract coyotes to residential areas. To prevent coyote conflicts, these attractants should be removed from the environment. You may take the following steps to avoid complications from arising:
- Avoid feeding and watering your pets outside. If you do have to do this, be sure to remove the food and water bowls once your pet is finished.
- If you have bird feeders, squirrel feeders, or food-bearing trees or plants outdoors, be certain to clean up any type of food source that has made its way to the ground each day.
- Keep all outdoor trash cans closed with a tight-fitting lid and away from your home.
- Be certain that your property is free from any type of debris that may be used by coyotes to create any type of den or burrow for shelter.
- Do not allow your pets to go outdoors without your supervision -even cats. If you do need to take your pets outside, place a harness or a leash on them. The only exception to this is if you have installed a fence that is coyote-proof.
- If you have cats in your neighborhood that you feed, elevate the feeding station so that the coyote may not find it. Also, install posts that the cats may climb for a means of escape, in case the coyote attempts to chase/capture them.
Coyote Hazing Techniques
Hazing helps to move coyotes out of areas you do not want them in. You may yell and wave the arms when you are near a coyote. You may use various types of noisemaker products to scare the creatures away. You may also throw items towards the creatures, but do not hit them.
If you have coyotes in and around your property, the safest technique is to have them removed by a professional. We here at Palmetto Wildlife Extractors specialize in coyote removal.
For more information on avoiding encounters with coyotes and/or to schedule removal, contact us today by calling: 855-465-1088