It’s that time of year again, coyotes become more active during winter, and the bare vegetation this time of year increases the chance of catching a glimpse. Seeing more coyotes does not mean they are increasing in number.
Problems between coyotes and people are uncommon. Follow these tips for making your property is less attractive to coyotes:
- Clean up fallen fruit from trees or gardens;
- Keep garbage secure;
- Make sure pet food and treats are not left outside;
- If you see a coyote around your yard, take down bird feeders; coyotes could be attracted to the rodents eating the seeds;
- Never intentionally feed a coyote, which could result in it losing its fear of people.
If you see a coyote and want it to go away, try to make it uncomfortable:
- Yell and wave your arms;
- Spray it with a hose;
- Throw tennis balls or small stones at it, but don’t throw anything that could be food;
- Carry a jar of coins to shake or a small air horn to make noise.
Making a coyote feel unwelcome around people can help maintain its natural fear of humans, but never corner or chase a coyote; you should always allow it to have a clear escape path to get away from you.
