Coyote sightings are more common now. Here’s why + how to scare them off, keep pets safe

If you’re going to spot a coyote this year, it’ll most likely be over the next few weeks.

Biologists with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission say May is the month during which most people spot coyotes. That’s because coyote parents raise their pups in the spring.

Even though coyotes raise their young in secluded areas, they need to cover a lot of ground to find food. This can include crossing through residential neighborhoods and business districts, NCWRC says. They mostly eat rabbits, rodents, insects, fruit and carrion, but they will also eat pet food and human food scraps left outside. Their food-finding journey each spring makes humans more likely to spot them.

Attacks on humans are very rare, and coyotes are ecologically helpful to keep down rodent populations. But coyotes may attack pets like small dogs and cats, as they can easily be mistaken for coyotes’ natural prey.

“Using a six-foot leash is an excellent way to protect small pets when they’re outside,” said Falyn Owens, wildlife biologist for the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. “If you notice a coyote watching or following you during a walk, pick up your pet and haze the coyote until it leaves. Your physical presence can be a powerful deterrent for a curious coyote.”

The News & Observer spoke with Owens to learn more about these animals (and how to keep pets safe) during coyote pupping season:

What are coyotes?

Coyotes are wild canines. They weigh about 30 pounds, on average, and can be found nearly everywhere.

“They are very adaptable and ubiquitous. Downtown Raleigh and Charlotte have coyotes, but they’re really good at avoiding people, so you’ll rarely see one,” Owens said.

Coyotes are typically gray or light brown, though they can be black as well.

When will I see a coyote?

Even though we’re more likely to encounter coyotes this month, there’s one thing to always remember: Coyotes are always around.

They are most likely to be seen at dawn and dusk, usually preferring to rest during the day, in part to avoid contact whit humans.

But when coyotes become parents to pups, which happens around the month of May, they can be active almost any time of day.

“I tell people to think about it like the parent of a newborn child. The parents barely sleep because the baby doesn’t have a regular sleep schedule, and they need to eat often. The coyote pups need to eat like that too,” Owens said.

Still, coyotes can be seen any time of day, even outside of May. They are just most likely to be spotted this time of year.

Should you scare off a coyote?

Yes. Coyotes should be taught to have a healthy fear of people, which will discourage unwanted behavior and foster coexistence, WRC teaches.

Coyotes can almost always be shooed away by “hazing it.” This can include making loud noises, waving your arms or throwing small items in its direction (not at the animal).

Coyotes are afraid of humans, so any attempt to scare them off will work 99% of the time.

However, during this specific pup rearing season, coyotes may be near their dens and will want to protect their pups. If you’re on a hike or otherwise near a wooded area, it’s possible the coyote is spending time in that space to care for its pups.

“Their den is really just a nursery for newborn pups, and they’ll abandon it as soon as the pups are old enough,” Owens said.

“Coyotes are great parents, and they will try to stay between you and their pups. If you come across a coyote in a secluded area and it stands its ground, just quietly leave. The coyote will lose interest as soon as you’re far enough away to feel its pups are safe.”

How to prevent conflicts with coyotes

You can deter coyotes (and keep pets safe) by following this advice from NCWRC:

• Secure garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and take them out in the morning of pick up, not the night before. Coyotes and other wildlife will scavenge trash when it is available to them.

• Don’t feed or try to pet coyotes. Feeding a coyote rewards that animal for coming in close proximity to people. Once a coyote becomes habituated, it loses its natural wariness of people and may become bold or aggressive.

• Protect your pets by keeping them inside, leashed, or inside a fenced area.

• Install coyote-proof fencing around your home to protect unsupervised pets. Fencing should be at least 6 feet tall and provide a full barrier along the ground that prevents animals from digging under.

• Feed pets indoors or remove uneaten food and bowls when your pet is finished eating. Coyotes and other wildlife are attracted to pet food left outdoors.

• Keep bird-feeder areas clean. Use bird feeders that keep seed off the ground. Coyotes are attracted to the small animals that congregating to eat fallen seed, and will sometimes eat the bird seed directly. If coyotes are frequently seen in the area, remove all feeders.

• Close off crawl spaces under sheds and porches. Coyotes and other wildlife may use these spaces for resting and raising young.

• Cut back brushy edges in your yard, which provide cover for coyotes.

• Don’t be intimidated by a coyote. Maintain a coyote’s natural wariness of people by throwing a small object such as a tennis ball toward it, making loud noises, or spraying it with a water hose. Let coyotes know they are unwelcome near your home.

• Clear fallen fruit from around fruit trees. Coyotes are omnivorous and regularly consume fruit as part of their diet.

(Source: ncwildlife.org)

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