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.