Coyote Season Has Arrived

You'll soon hear coyote yelps as the youngins run through the creeks and open land with their Mamas and siblings. Usually born from March to May, the litters average four to seven pups. Mama weans them around seven weeks and within a few months, they'll be learning to hunt and searching out their own territory to live in.

I'm expecting a new pack shortly. I chased a very pregnant Mama away several months ago with noisy wind chimes, flashing lights and Irish Spring soap shavings. She moved down the creek to bear her young. But I know she'll be back, pups in tow. They'll check out my animals first (though none are accessible to them). But once those pups get their first teeth, they'll be teething on my spaghetti sprinkler lines and shredding them to pieces like there's no tomorrow. If it wasn't for the damage they do to my waterlines, I wouldn't mind having them. But I get tired of repairing the lines, over and over again.

How many coyotes are in California?

According to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife, there are estimated to be between 250,000 and 750,000 living in our state. San Diego County sitings appear in both urban and rural areas, with coyotes estimated to be in the thousands.

"Coyotes are highly adaptable and have thrived in the County due to habitat loss, readily available food sources, and a lack of natural predators."—San Diego Humane Society

Are populations increasing?

Coyotes may be found in every US State with the exception of Hawaii. Here are the top ten states recording frequent coyote sitings according to World Population Review:

STATE	MINIMUM POPULATION	MAXIMUM POPULATION
Texas	859,510	859,510
California	250,000	750,000
Arizona	200,000	200,000
Kansas	150,000	300,000
New Mexico	125,000	125,000
Arkansas	106,360	212,720
Pennsylvania	100,000	100,000
Georgia	90,000	90,000
Wyoming	86,000	86,000
Oregon	83,695	83,695

You need to remember that Texas and California are very large states. So in regard to numbers and total acreage, we may all be close in how many coyotes we host per square mile.

"Populations have increased three-fold since the late 1980s, according to a video from K-State. This growth is due to a combination of factors, including the expansion of their habitat, increased availability of food in urban areas, and their adaptability to human presence. —Wildlife Management Specialists at K-State Research and Extension

Are coyotes dangerous to humans?

I've had coyotes run away the moment they see me. I've also chased them on my tractor and they didn't seem frightened but rather acted like we're playing a game of chase. The best thing to do is haze them by swinging your arms above your head, blowing an airhorn or throwing rocks at them.

If you're walking your dog on a leash or he's at your side, it can be a totally different situation. You are now present with something the coyote wants and can eat. If you're out for a walk away from home, call a friend and ask them to pick you up in their vehicle immediately.

How to Scare Coyotes Away (Hazing)—Use air horns, whistles, or even banging pots and pans to create sudden, loud noises that startle coyotes. Use motion-activated lights, sprinklers, and even the presence of a larger dog can make your yard less appealing. Throw small objects (like tennis balls or sticks), spray with a hose, or use a squirt gun filled with water and if you encounter a coyote, make yourself look big, wave your arms, and yell to make it clear you want it to leave. —AI Overview

Are coydogs aggressive?

They can be or they may be docile. Coydogs are the offspring of wild coyotes and domestic dogs. Factors influencing their personalities may be traced to the breed of dog involved in the cross. They don't often breed because of different mating times and coyotes may view domestic dogs as competitors for their territories and resources (food).

Will coyotes hurt my animals?

Yes. To a coyote, any animal small enough to eat is food. Mainly they'll eat mice, rats, ground squirrels, birds and rabbits but as those populations decrease, they'll move on to domesticated pets . . . mostly cats, small dogs, chickens, maybe a goat. They once attacked my neighbor's German Shepherd. They didn't kill it but did enough damage that it had to have several operations. His traveling buddy—a smaller dog—wasn't so lucky.

I used to help out the Feral Cat Rescue by raising their feral kittens in my barn. I nurtured them for months. Some of them were domesticated and others could not be. After losing ten of them to coyotes, I told the group I couldn't help them anymore. They thought that being eaten by coyotes was better than euthanasia. I do not agree.

How to keep coyotes away from your home?

Here are some basic tips that may discourage visits from our coyote friends.

Eliminate Food Sources:

• Secure trash: Store garbage in tightly closed, preferably animal-proof, containers. 

• Remove pet food: Don't leave pet food outside, especially at night. Feed pets indoors and clean up any spills promptly. 

• Pick up fallen fruit: Regularly collect fallen fruit from trees, as this can attract coyotes. 

• Secure compost: Cover compost piles and make them less accessible to coyotes. 

• Remove bird feeders: Coyotes are attracted to the birds and seed in the feeders. 

Use Physical Barriers:

• Fencing: Install fences at least six feet high, with a coyote roller at the top or bury the bottom edge to prevent digging.

• Secure sheds and decks: Ensure these areas are enclosed to prevent coyotes from finding shelter. 

Coyotes aren't bad, they're just trying to survive. We squeezed them out of their environment with all our development and now they're living amongst us. And that's a big dilemma, especially with pets.

Beware if you think you'll remove them to get rid of the problem. Most times you will increase the population. They're territorial and once you remove one pack, another will move in. And they may be a pack with a lot more pups that continually return to your property year after year.

Return to Main Page