Coyotes

BEING A NUISANCE?
Please get in touch with a licensed NWCO personnel if a coyote is habituated and appears threatening.

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COYOTES IN KENTUCKY

Coyotes have long been established and common in suburban and urban centers, including Los Angeles, Chicago and Denver. In Kentucky, they are now commonly seen in all 120 counties. They are common everywhere but, for the most part, stay hidden from people. If you encounter a coyote, don't panic. Coyotes will typically avoid people unless we create a situation that invites them closer to our homes. It is essential that communities work together to maintain the natural fear that coyotes have of us and create an environment where coyotes and humans can better co-exist.

PSA Coyotes Spotted in Louisville, Kentucky
Credit: Louisville Metro TV

Coyotes are highly adaptable and are often looking for new territories and food. - Image Credit: Laura Palmer, Trailcam Footage

SUBURBAN COYOTES

Please find the attached publications related to urban coyotes and general coyote biology. The Coyotes in the Suburbs includes helpful information about coyote behavior and addressing coyote issues. Coyotes are common throughout Kentucky, and many homeowners may not even be aware that they live nearby.

Advantageous Behavior

Coyotes usually select den sites in hollow trees or logs, rock crevices, brush piles, abandoned groundhog burrows, self-excavated holes, or even abandoned buildings or junk piles.

Coyote sightings increase during the winter breeding season and pup rearing in spring and early summer. During the breeding season, coyotes may be less tolerant of dogs and more territorial. People should stay away from den sites as coyotes feel the need to protect their pups. During the late summer and fall seasons, coyote sightings often increase, likely due to the breaking up of family groups and subsequent dispersal of young adults in late summer and early fall to establish their territories.

Coyotes are omnivorous and eat a wide variety of foods, including mice, rabbits, frogs, insects, carrion, goose eggs, and fruit. If natural foods are limited, they may take advantage of dog food, garden fruits such as watermelon and strawberries, and garbage. Secure garbage, take pet food inside and don't feed raccoons, opossums, deer, or feral cats.

Coyotes are so resilient to population control and are generalists in their habitat and food requirements that it is impossible to eradicate them. Trapping and removing coyotes will only result in new coyotes moving in to occupy empty territories. Efforts to eradicate coyotes have resulted in females breeding at younger ages, birthing larger litters, and increasing the survival of pups due to less competition for food. Total eradication of coyotes is not possible.

Always Remember!

Do not feed coyotes.
Do not leave pet food outside that will attract coyotes.
Make sure garbage containers are secured.
Be aware that bird feeders may attract squirrels and mice, which in turn, may attract coyotes.
Keep pets on a leash or fence in your yard.
Use negative reinforcement to scare coyotes away; shout, wave arms, and throw objects. Do not run from a coyote.
Share with your neighbors the recommendations above.

SEEING FARM COYOTES

Provide secure housing for chickens and rabbits.
Bring livestock into barns or sheds at night.
Use guard animals such as donkeys, llamas, and dogs to protect livestock.
Contact NWCO personnel for fur trappers and Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators who can trap and remove individual problem coyotes.

Decrease Conflicts With Coyotes

The best way to decrease human and coyote conflict is not to feed coyotes--intentionally or unintentionally. Discourage your neighbors from feeding coyotes, feral cat colonies, or other wildlife. When coyotes come too close or appear aggressive or have lost their fear of humans, it is often the result of being fed. The following are common types of outdoor food sources for coyotes:

Bird feeders attract squirrels, mice, raccoons, and opossums, which in turn, attract coyotes. Bring bird feeders inside at night and remove the seed that falls on the ground, or do not use feeders when coyotes are in the area.
Do not leave pet food outside. If you have to feed your pet outside, only give them the amount of food they can eat in one sitting.
Secure garbage containers and compost bins.
Fence gardens and compost piles.
Keep BBQ grills clean, including the grease trap.

In addition to providing food, your outdoor space should be secured. If you have pets or small children, this is even more essential.

Plug holes under fences and block access to crawlspaces under outdoor buildings, porches, and the house.
Install rolling fence toppers to help keep coyotes and pests out of your yard.
Install motion-sensitive lighting around the house or turn on outside lighting and make sure the area is clear before letting a dog outside at night.

Supervise pets while they are in the yard. Coyotes can climb over or dig beneath most fencing. Unattended pets should be kenneled.

If you have a dog, be sure to walk your dog on a short, non-retractable leash that is highly visible to the coyote; they are less likely to attack a dog if they see it as part of you. Do not walk your dog at the same time or on the same route every day. Coyotes learn patterns. Always clean up dog droppings, as they will attract coyotes. Do not let your dog chase a coyote; the coyote will defend itself, and your dog may be injured.

Cats are often easy targets for coyotes; therefore, do not let cats outside, especially without supervision.

Small children should never be left unattended. Teach children never to approach a coyote or run from one; instead, use hazing techniques.

Encourage your neighbors to follow these guidelines. Keeping coyotes wild and wary of humans is a community effort. Visit urbancoyoteresearch.com for more information.

IF A COYOTE APPROACHES YOU

DO

Do immediately begin scaring the coyote away; do not stand and observe it.
Do make loud noises: shout, whistle, clap hands, stomp feet.
Do appear larger: wave arms, widen stance, wave a walking stick.
Do establish dominance: take a step or lunge in the coyote’s direction, and throw objects in the coyote’s direction but not directly at it.
Do pick up a small dog or child.
Do continue hazing activity until the coyote retreats out of sight.
Do stay away from known den areas; coyotes will protect their pups. If you suspect a den is nearby, slowly back away from the area.
Do share these techniques with neighbors.

DO NOT

Do not panic. Coyotes are curious and sometimes follow people to see what they are doing in their territories.
Do not approach a coyote to take photographs or videos.
Do not turn your back.
Do not run. Running away dampens the coyote’s fear of people and could invite it to chase.
Do not haze a coyote that is cornered, with pups, or appears sick or injured. Slowly back away.

Coyotes are at home in all types of environments. - Image Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services

Coyote As An Nuisance

Occasionally, individual coyotes may become so habituated to humans that they need to be removed from the population. Check out our page on Nuisance Wildlife to find options for nuisance wildlife removal. We do not recommend that coyotes are trapped and then moved and released elsewhere. This can make them a threat to someone else.

Reducing and eliminating coyote conflicts is a community effort. Don't Panic. Remember that humans and coyotes can co-exist.

​​​​​​​​​​​​Publications:

Hunting and Trapping:​​​

Professional Organizations:

​​CO​​​YOTES IN KENTUCKY​

​​​ ​ SUBUR​BAN COY​OTES

Advantageous ​Behavior