Submitted by Joanne Rodgers
Presenter Sarah Killingsworth, award-winning wildlife conservation photographer/filmmaker and Coordinator of Project Coyote’s “Keeping It Wild” joined the October BPEG (Bruce Peninsula Environment Group) Meeting via Zoom.
Killingsworth offered many interesting and educational facts about coyotes; shared insights on how coyotes adapt to living in our midst and offered suggestions for reducing the potential for conflicts between coyotes and humans.
Coyotes are territorial and use the sense of smell to hunt and find food, typically rodents, voles and rabbits. However if their preferred prey is unavailable the coyotes may eat fruits, berries, carrion and insects. While dogs and cats are not their preferred food source, it is safer to keep a watch on your pets when in territories covered by coyotes.
Coyotes are usually wary of people and will avoid humans whenever possible. Bold behavior is unusual and is most often a result of habituation due to intentional or unintentional feeding, the presence of a dog, or the coyote defending a den and young.
Killingsworth recommends that if you encounter a coyote, remember the following:
-Never feed or try to “tame” a coyote; appreciate coyotes from a distance.
-Walk dogs on leashes; pick up small dogs if a coyote is near.
-If approached, be BIG and LOUD. You can also scare the animal by blowing a whistle, shaking a can with coins inside, popping open an umbrella, or throwing objects (toward but not at the coyote).
-Do not run from a coyote; calmly leave the area.
An interesting fact is that killing of coyotes interrupts the pack dynamic and if the coyotes are under stress, they may produce larger litters. Killingsworth says there are other ways to mitigate conflicts such as:
-Don’t let domestic animals roam; keep them securely enclosed and protected at night.
-Fence your property. The fence must be at least 6 feet tall with the bottom extending at least 6 inches below the ground. Fences are more effective by using wire mesh, outwardly inverting the top of the fence, by using electric fencing along the top and bottom (more strands for protecting livestock), or by installing the CoyoteRoller™ which makes it difficult for predators to gain the “foothold” they need to pull up and over the top of an enclosure.
-Llamas, donkeys, and livestock guard dogs are effective in reducing coyote-livestock conflicts.
-Don’t leave animal foods outside; keep all food well secured.
-Install motion-sensor lights near buildings.
-Walk dogs on leashes, particularly during coyote mating season (December—February) and pupping seasons (April—July).
-Spay or neuter your dogs. Though uncommon, coyotes are attracted to, and can mate with, dogs.
For more information, please see Ranching and Agriculture Coexistence brochure at https://projectcoyote.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Ranching_with_wildlife_web.pdf
