How many times have you woken up to a coyote concert in the middle of the night? Let’s not even mention your dear pets that they usually make a meal of. This is where you learn to get rid of those unwanted pests and do so in a moral way.
Coyotes or prairie wolves, as they are also known as, have been inhabiting North America since ages. Native Americans saw them as intelligent animals who managed to blend in easily with all the environmental changes around them. Unrestricted encroaching, unfortunately, has led to the coyotes blending in a little too well for our liking. In separate incidents, two spirited coyotes were spotted in Central Park, New York City and at Chicago’s Quizno’s restaurant. Rare though these incidents may be, the fact remains that coyotes have adapted extremely well to having humans around them.
As omnivores, coyotes consume almost everything their surroundings offer. Rabbits, rodents, fish, frogs and deer form the coyote’s prey, whereas insects, snakes, fruits, grass, and carrion are special treats. The coyote’s predilection for livestock has earned them the ire of the farming community. In the colder months, they are known to feast on fruits and vegetables. Being omnivorous has worked out to their advantage tremendously, as their burgeoning population suggests. The coyote, for you, could be a pest for several reasons, but getting rid of it is not as difficult as it is made out to be. Killing a coyote is simply out of question; firstly, because of its moral implications, and the legalities, or rather, the illegalities associated with it. Follow these measures to get rid of coyotes, that do not hurt the sensibilities of the greenies.
How to Get Rid of Coyotes
Having mindlessly encroached on animal territories, we hardly have any right to make noise about it. Nevertheless, coyotes are indeed pests, and before we start thinking about getting rid of them, we must understand their behavior.
That Wile E. Coyote
Coyotes and dogs are related. However, having said that, coyotes do not wander into human territories with the purpose of striking a friendship. Unlike dogs, they have no cravings for human affection, or even interaction. They are animals looking to satisfy their basic need, which is obviously food. If human habitats happen to be their unintentional source of food, there is nothing much they can do about it, except exploiting it to their advantage. This actually makes it easy for us to get rid of them. All we need to do is, stop being their source of food.
» Avoid leaving any food on your porch during the night. Remember, coyotes are primarily nocturnal.
» Coyotes possess an extremely acute sense of smell, so it would be a good idea to tightly lid your garbage bins and stop sending them invitations.
» As they seem to favor fruits and vegetables too, make sure you pick up those that fall from your trees and lie in your garden.
» You love your cats and dogs; the coyote loves your cats and dogs too. Do the right thing by keeping your pets inside after dark.
» Livestock should ideally be kept in safe enclosures.
» Rodents are a tasty treat too, so get rid of the critters, and you get rid of the coyotes. Simple!
Just Beep Them Out!
No, even if it flatters you, coyotes are not besotted by humans. Shy by nature, these animals like to maintain a safe distance from us. Humans are directly responsible for any brazen behavior that a coyote displays, having tolerated his initial advances. Feeding a coyote is a strict no-no as this encourages them to be bolder around humans. It may also be against the law in some regions. Befriending them will win you a one-way ticket to coyote hell. Here’s what you can do to keep them within their wild environs. A coyote isn’t a weeny creature in the size department, but it is not a menacing wolf either. Shooing them away is easy, not nearly as nasty as shooting is.
» Intimidate them by stamping hard on the ground, and waving your hands and shouting.
» If you spot them in your backyard, turn them away with a squirt of water from your garden hose.
» Yelling works well too, as they are smart enough to understand they’re not welcome.
» Noisy things like whistles, bells and horns work like a charm, if you are not too keen on the circus antics mentioned above.
» While being shooed away with such intimidating tactics, a coyote often runs some distance, turns and observes. You must continue the shooing to get your message clearly across.
» If your area is coyote-infested, you are bound to be wary about taking your dog out for a walk. Be safe and carry a whistle or a squirt gun, or even pepper spray.
» Repelling coyotes is both, practical and effective. Coyotes, with their sharp noses, are put off with the scent of their predators. Odor deterrents made of wolf urine have proved to be useful.
» The right kind of fencing goes a long way in keeping the coyotes out of your property. You need to decide if right fencing means electric fencing.
» And if all fails, as it is most likely to, the only option remains is to hunt them. However, keep in mind that hunting regulations vary from state to state, and you need to be in possession of a requisite hunting license pertaining to the state in order to kill the animals. You also need to be aware of the hunting season in your state.
Ending the coyote nuisance is going to be hard, even with endless measures like these. People naïve enough to believe that killing them offers a final solution are in for a rude shock. Environmentalists are of the opinion that killing coyotes has no detrimental effect on their population, thanks to their prolific reproduction rates. In coyotes, we have been able to observe an adaptation drive that can only be called a natural marvel. With nature clearly on their side, it makes more sense to stick to these wimpy-but-effective methods, instead of reaching out for a gun.