Coyotes

BREEDING: 5 to 10 PUPS IN MARCH-APRIL

ACTIVE LATE AFTERNOON, EVENING, EARLY MORNING

DIET: MICE, SQUIRRELS, RABBITS, FRUIT, INSECTS

 

Coyotes, black bears and other wildlife may be your neighbors.  Due to the rapid loss of their habitat by development; fires; or lack of water and food-Coyotes are now seen more often in urban areas of our region.

Residents have several options to discourage coyotes from entering their property and to co-exist with these wild animals:

 

• Do not feed any wild life including squirrels and songbirds.  Seeds and food scraps attract the smaller animals and in turn attract coyotes.

 

• Do not leave food and water for domestic pets outside especially in dry climates.  These attract the smaller animals and coyotes. 

 

• Do not leave small children or pets outside unattended during the late afternoon or early morning.

 

• Install motion sensitive lighting around the house especially in areas where you might have fruit trees or animals residing outside. If you have chickens or rabbits-provide very secure enclosures.

 

• Trim ground level shrubbery to reduce hiding or nesting places.

 

• Put trash in tightly closed containers that cannot tip over.  Do not use only plastic bags and do not over fill open trash containers especially with food or table scraps.

 

• Pick up any fallen fruit.  Grapes, berries, soft fruit and avocados are a coyote’s dessert.

 

• Double check fencing to insure it is secure. 

 

• Coyotes can be attracted to unaltered pets.  Unaltered female dogs in season will attract male coyotes. 

 

 

With a few precautions, it is possible to make your property unattractive to coyotes and other wild animals.