Coyotes

People and agencies have injected coyotes with chemicals, poisoned them, shot at them from airplanes, strangled them with neck snares, run coyotes down with snow mobiles, used leghold traps, buried them alive in their dens, and employed a host of other hideous methods. 1,884,897 bounties were paid on coyotes from 1915 to 1947, and the techniques listed above continue to be used today.

Killing Coyotes Does Not Diminish Coyote Populations

Surprisingly, these efforts to control coyote populations have not decimated the animal’s numbers. In fact, the coyote’s range and numbers have increased. In Colorado, for example, the Colorado Division of Wildlife reports that coyotes are likely more numerous than they were when settlers first arrived.Violently disruptive measures cause packs of coyotes to splinter, allowing younger males to breed with females, a task usually preserved for the alpha male in a pack structure. The absence of a hierarchical structure results in an increase in coyote population. New coyote packs require new territory, and coyotes cover an increased amount of land in search of food sources.

Food Sources

Coyotes consume large numbers of rodents. Any reduction in the population of coyotes may have the unintended consequence of an accompanying increase in the population of rabbits, rats, and other small mammals. Potential food sources in suburban and urban areas also beckon to coyotes.

Coyotes can be dissuaded from eating your garbage, pets, and other animals by employing a variety of humane methods.

• Install netwire around farm animals. Coyotes climb well. It may be necessary to build a netwire roof as well.
  
  
• Build tall fences around yards and property, with extensions buried underground to prevent coyotes from digging their way in.
  
  
• Keep pets and pet food indoors, especially at night.
  
  
• Coyotes can mate and breed with dogs. Spay and neuter your dogs to prevent them from being wooed away and killed by coyotes.
  
  
• Keep garbage cans in enclosed areas. Secure lids on the cans.
  
  
• Use loud noises and lights to frighten coyotes away.
  
  
• Use guard dogs to help keep coyotes away from sheep.
  
  
• Coyotes often den under haystacks, near farm buildings, or around homes. Remove brush and ground cover to take away hiding places.

Encounters With Humans

Humans tend to intimidate coyotes. On rare occasions, a coyote adapted to human presence as a result of feeding by humans will act aggressively. If you encounter a coyote:

• Do not run or turn your back. Instead, calmly back out of an area.
  
  
• Do not challenge coyotes by looking them directly in the eye.
  
  
• Make yourself bigger and make loud noises.
  
  
• Protect small children by standing between them and the coyotes.
  
• Fight back if attacked.