Perhaps at some point in time, we can all learn to live in harmony with coyotes and other creatures that, like us, just want to find a safe place to raise their young.We’re renovating our Adoptions Building at our San Diego Campus (5500 Gaines St.). They are intelligent, adaptable creatures with many interesting habits. If you do not mind sharing your space with coyotes, enjoy observing them with binoculars when they visit. Pass this information along since your efforts will be futile if your neighbors are providing food and shelter for coyotes.

Trapping and relocating coyotes is inhumane and illegal and not a viable alternative.

Coyotes are attracted to and can mate with unspayed or unneutered dogs.

Actively discourage coyotes with loud noises, flashing lights, recorded human voices such as radio talk shows, and ammonia-soaked rags.

Trim and clear near ground level any shrubbery that provides cover for coyotes or prey.

Pick fruit off trees as soon as it’s ripe and keep rotted fruit off the ground.

Do not use chicken wire, a strong gauge wire is necessary for protecting small animals. Chicken coops should be constructed with the wire buried at least one foot underground around the perimeter of the coop.

Rabbit hutches should have a solid bottom.

Pets should not be left outdoors unattended. Coyotes use such areas for resting and raising young.

Close off crawl spaces under porches and sheds.

Coyotes, like dogs and raccoons, will knock over trash cans or tear open trash bags. Outdoor feeding attracts many wild animals.

Don’t approach or try to pet a coyote.

Feeding coyotes will make them become dependent and less wary of humans. Practice these guidelines and encourage your neighbors to do the same:

Here are a few suggestions to make your property less attractive to coyotes. Everything a coyote does is related to a potential meal. In suburban areas, they have been known to prey on unprotected pets. They will scavenge on animal remains as well as garbage and pet foods left outdoors. Their primary foods are fruits, berries, rodents, and insects. They will feed on whatever is most readily available and easy to obtain.

Coyotes also eat insects and have saved many farms from insect invasions.Ĭoyotes almost certainly do humans more good than harm, however, they are opportunistic feeders. Natural rodent control is always preferable to man-made poisons and inhumane traps. Coyotes kill destructive, vegetation eating rodents as they are 80% of a coyotes diet. Education is the solution to our coexistence.Ĭoyotes contribute many beneficial aspects to our ecosystem as they are helpful to farmers, ranchers, gardeners, and homeowners. It has been estimated that 30 to 50 percent of all adult coyotes die each year from human-related causes.Ĭoyotes help to keep the balance of nature in order. We humans need to learn to coexist with this native species. Due to the rapid loss of their natural habitat by development, many coyotes have been forced to cohabit with humans. However, when well-meaning people feed coyotes they can become unnaturally bold. Observing coyotes and other wildlife is one of the many benefits of living near their habitat. They have been known to take turns in chasing and catching prey. Coyotes have exceptional senses of smell, vision, and hearing. They remain active all year round and do not hibernate.Ĭoyotes are highly territorial, and actively keep non-family members outside their territory. At about 7 to 8 months of age, the pups are then ready to leave their parents.Ĭoyotes can be active day or night, and sightings at dawn or dusk are common. At 10 weeks of age, the pups are old enough to join in on hunts. They mate in February and pups are usually born in April or May.

Females bear an average of five to ten pups annually. The males are typically heavier than females. The coyote was called “song dog” by American Indians and the scientific name Canis latrans means “Barking Dog.” Their name comes from the Aztec word for species, coyotl.

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