Do you want to know if Coyotes are dangerous or friendly to pets and humans?
The answer is Yes, Coyotes are dangerous animals. They can kill other pets in the neighborhood, so you should use spray repellent to keep Coyotes off or fence your home.
Coyotes are animals that belong to the dog family. They have a grayish brown color with white fur under the belly and its neck.
They’re cunningly smart animals that can adapt to the environment. This means they can make the best of bad situations.
Coyotes will eat about just anything, making them good atadaptive to various environments. They are not picky when it comes tohabitation, they can live so well nearly everywhere.
Coyote habituation
Coyotes can be habitual or accustomed to people, this makes them brave when they encounter humans.
Coyotes can be habitual to people when they have been fed. They are usually fed in the form of pet food left outside, unsecured garbage or handouts.
When coyotes depend on these kinds of food, they begin to approach humans and may begin to exhibit aggressive behaviors.
When the coyotes begin to habituate, you may have something to worry. Normally, the coyotes may not be a threat to humans or animals such as large dogs but they may attack small children and pets.
The coyotes may sometimes not be concerned with humans but while walking with pets, they may see them as a threat or competition or be viewed as potential prey.
It may be difficult to establish how your interaction with coyotes may alter their behavior. This brings a conflict which can be dramatic if you do not know what to expect from these coyotes.
Human-coyote encounters
Encountering with a coyote can be very rare. Whether in the urban and suburban landscapes or where coyotes are found in a large number, these animals are seldom seen.
However, you may catch a glimpse of a coyote as it moves from one place to another searching for preys, usually small animals like voles and mice.
When you observe coyotes, you should know how to handle it. Remember you cannot outrun a coyote, so, you should not run.
Not that it matters, coyotes will not attack a person but you need to put your pet on your reach to not let it go to the coyote.
Coyote attack on people
Events of coyote attacks on people are rare. However, the coyote attack can be prevented in various ways.
Coyote attacks on people can be prevented by preventing habituation as well as modifying human behavior.
It turns out that in many human attack incidents, the coyotes were being fed or people get bitten while trying to rescue their pets. even though such events are rare, they warrant a serious response. Most health centers will mandate testing for rabies.
Events when you should act on coyotes
1. Coyotes crossing a street or yard
Coyotes may be taking shortcuts to find their natural prey on their hunting grounds.
This event requires no response other than keeping your pets and children secure and ensuring that there are no food attractants outside.
2. Coyotes lounging in a yard/following people
Coyotes usually flee at the sight of people, but when they begin lounging in your yard of following people, hazing is the best thing to do. Shake or clap your hands while making authoritative voices.
You can make noises by banging items to scare them away. Remember that hazing will not work any longer if there are still food attractants at sight.
Coyotes may refuse to retreat despite your persistent hazing because someone may be feeding them in the nearby.
Some coyotes run for a short distance and stop or may freeze and stare. In this case, you may need to contact animal control for further action.
Basic rules for walking pets in coyote territory
1. Keep your dog leashed
Keep your dog on a 6-foot leash to let your dog have some freedom while you are walking in the coyote territory.
However, you should not keep the dog leashed so long that you cannot control it when you need to. Use retractable leashes to help you real your dog back in when they are pulling a long line ahead of you.
2. Avoid areas known for coyote activities
If the areas are known for coyote activities such as during breeding and pupping reasons, make a common sense decision to avoid walking your dog in such areas.
The breeding and pupping seasons are when coyotes are so defensive of their sites.
3. Stick to open paths
Avoid heading to off-trail areas with a thick brush becausethere are chances of running into coyotes. Ensure you stick to paths to giveplenty of time to spot and respond to coyotes.
4. Avoid walking at sunset or sunrise hours
Coyotes are known to be naturally active at the twilighthours. You should avoid walking your dog during sunrise or sunset because thereare high chances of interacting with coyotes, especially the urban coyoteswhich switch to nocturnal behavior.
How to avoid conflicts with coyotes
1. Do not feed coyotes
The most effective way to get rid of coyotes in your neighborhood if to strictly eliminate feeding and restrain their habitation.
Coyotes will lose their fear of humans and may eventually begin to test people and animals as possible prey.
You may be unintentionally feeding the coyotes by leaving pet food outside. Ensure you clear all food attractants to eliminate coyotes.
2. Do not let pets run loose
Leaving your pets run loose may be a risk to predators and unnecessary conflicts to the coyotes.
If your neighborhood has signs of coyotes, ensure your pets are not left unattended outside. You can fence your yard to keep the coyotes away and keep your pets contained.
3. Do not run from coyotes
When you encounter a coyote, you should not play a victim by running away. Shout authoritatively and wave your hands or throw things at the direction of the coyote.
However, during the pupping seasons, the coyotes may be intent on defending. In this event, it is advisable to alter your route to avoid conflicts while exhibiting caution.
4. Fencing or repellents may help
You can use repellents such as remotely activated lights, sound making devices and spray to keep coyotes out of your yard.
While these repellents may not work thoroughly on all coyotes, consider fencing to keep them out of the yard.
5. Report the aggressive coyotes immediately
Some coyotes may behave aggressively and fail to exhibit fear of humans, you should consider reporting the animal to the appropriate authority near you.
You should be aware of the aggressive acts that coyotes may exhibit such as agitated barking, growing and lunging.
In this instance, ensure contact a licensed wildlife trapper for further actions professionally.
Coyote attacks on humans are rare. Actually, coyotes are not a threat to humans.
However, some behavior changes might make coyotes try to threaten young children once they start seeing them as potential prey.
Conclusion
When you encounter a coyote, you do not need to panic or portray signs of fear because the coyotes will take advantage.
Stand still and try to scare away the coyotes by throwing items to its directions. You also need to learn medical attention based on coyotes.