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Avoiding Conflict with Coyotes in an Urban Area

By
Real Estate Agent with CIR REALTY

Coyotes are attracted to urban areas by the easy accessibility of food, water, and shelter. The City of Airdrie is no exception. Coyotes have been seen in many areas of Airdrie and Airdrie Municipal Enforcement wants citizens to be aware of what attracts coyotes and steps they can take to protect their property and small pets. Without realizing it, citizens may be providing coyotes with a regular food source. "We want to advise citizens about the nuisance and potential hazards that coyotes can cause," says Airdrie Community Peace Officer Berry. "There have been recent reports of sightings of coyotes in urban Airdrie. There are many reasons coyotes are attracted to urban areas and being educated about why they are attracted and what hazards they can pose is important for everyone to know." Coyotes habituated to people lose their natural fear and may become aggressive leading to public safety concerns. Steps to reduce or eliminate coyote presence in backyards: • Recognize and remove all attractants. This will reduce the potential of having coyotes in your backyard (as well as other wildlife i.e. skunks). - Garbage can lids should be secured at all times or garbage stored indoors. - Take garbage out only on collection day. - In the summer, ripe fruits and vegetables should be covered at night or the garden/fruit trees enclosed by a coyote proof fence to prevent access by hungry coyotes. Fallen fruit can attract mice and squirrels, which are prey for coyotes. - All windfall fruit/vegetables should be picked up daily. - Secure garbage in animal proof receptacles. - Don’t store pet food or other potential food sources outside. - Clean up around bird feeders. Avoid hanging bird feeders that contain lard or suet. - Never compost meat products. Ensure compost piles are not readily accessible. • Keep pets in your enclosed property or inside your home, especially at night. Cats and small dogs should not be left out after dark unless enclosed in a coyote proof enclosure. • Pets should be fed during daylight hours and all pet food removed from your yard before night fall. Water bowls should be emptied and not left out after dark. • Clean up after your pet, remove feces from yard. • Erect a stable two-metre high fence, flush to the ground around the yard (a permit may be required). • Food should never intentionally be left out for wild mammals. • Cooperate with your neighbours to reduce the possibility of attracting coyotes. • Remove low branches on trees that can provide hiding places for coyotes or attract small rodents, particularly near children's play areas. • Install motion lights in your yard • Teach children not to approach coyotes or any other wildlife. If you know that coyotes are in your area, supervise small children when they play outside. • Make sure each child knows what to do if they encounter a coyote. Just like you, your child must respond aggressively to coyote encounters. Coyotes are found in urban areas and attracted into urban areas for a number of reasons: • Urban areas are growing and this causes wildlife to lose natural habitat in which to live. • Coyotes thrive in urban areas where there is abundant green spaces and food sources. They take advantage of habitats created by urban growth including city parks and golf courses. They prefer parks with wooded areas for shelter, golf courses, cemeteries and other open areas such as vacant lots. • Coyotes are opportunistic feeders. They find food sources within the city and are not discouraged from utilizing those sources. Coyotes are curious and can adapt easily to new situations, they are not picky eaters. • Regular coyote presence in one area is due to a nearby food source that is easily accessible. • Residents may or may not be intentionally feeding the coyotes. Common food sources/aromas may include; open garbage, pet food, pets, pet feces/urine, female dogs in heat, garbage bins, compost piles, fruit fallen from trees, bird feeder (lard/suet), berries, vegetables. • Coyotes normal diet includes; mice, ground squirrels, rabbits, birds, bird eggs, carrion. • Garbage and tall grass in backyards attract mice and other rodents which in turn attracts the coyote into the area. • Coyotes have become bold and have lost their sense of fear towards humans. They have learned backyards/playgrounds/parks/golf courses are potential sources of food. This behavior is passed along to their offspring. Human behavior has habituated coyotes. For more information and to report a sighting in Airdrie: For non-emergency situations and to report coyote sightings (when an injured or aggressive coyote is observed/encountered) call: • Alberta Government’s Coyote Hotline at (403) 297-7789 • Alberta Sustainable Resource Development at (403) 297-6423 or 1-800-642-3800 (after hours) Additional information about coyotes and how to avoid encounters can be found at www.srd.alberta.ca Information cited from the Government of Alberta (Alberta Sustainable Resource Development), City of Calgary, City of Edmonton and City of Vancouver.

Posted by

REALTOR®

Make it Airdrie  ~ Terri Stephens ~ CIR REALTY

403.827.4663

 

 

Comments (5)

Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

Coyotes are becoming more bold lately, just look at what happened to that poor girl in Nova Scotia last month. Who would have thought they would become so bold?

Dec 21, 2009 03:01 AM
Robert Hammerstein
Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ
Bergen County NJ Real Estate

Terri - Coyotes are truly getting braver even in New Jersey now... Sheldon spotted one the other day in his town... at least he though it was a wolf .... City slicker....

Dec 21, 2009 03:02 AM
Dennis Herman
Crossroads Real Estate LLC - Howards Grove, WI
Dennis Herman

When you have a real dog you don't have to worry about coyotes.  I noticed my dog repeating the howls.  I assume it must me some type of territorial call.  I have also see my dog defend her territory against three coyotes.  When she cpnfronted them they stood butt to but facing in three different directions, like the wooly buffalo you hear about.  They stay out of her yard.  They don't bother her and she lets them know she is around. 

You usually hear complaints from people with small dogs, who think they can run the house and everything outside.  These are the dogs you need to watch out for.  For some reason they hearts are larher then their whole body.

Dec 21, 2009 03:08 AM
Margaret Mitchell
Coldwell Banker Yorke Realty - York, ME
Seacoast Maine & NH Real Estate

Hi Terri - We have coyote nearby because we have deer.  Dennis in comment #3 gives good advice about small dogs.  I watch mine, well like a hawk.

Jan 08, 2010 01:36 AM
Robert The Earl of Real Estate
St Pete LUXE Living Group - Saint Petersburg, FL
The Earl of Real Estate

Living just outside of Washington, DC in Northern Virginia - the headline had me thinking of Congress and The Government, then I read the article - good Information.  We have a local condo community that is dealing with a Beaver that is just being a beaver and going to town on a number of the small trees that used to dot the edgewater. 

Jan 11, 2010 08:12 AM