Coyotes are an adaptable species, wildlife experts agree, and that adaptability has allowed them to increase their numbers and their habitat. But culling them by trapping and killing won’t stop conflicts with coyotes. For a concise summary of the coyote situation in our country, here’s an introduction from the Humane Society of the United States:
For more than a century, human beings have waged a war on coyotes, killing them with poison, traps, guns, hunting dogs, and a variety of other cruel coyote killing methods.
Nonetheless, the wary nature of coyotes and their remarkable adaptability has allowed them to quadruple their range throughout North America.
As a result, communities across the country are encountering coyotes and experiencing conflicts that they have never had to face before. The presence of coyotes in a community can be alarming to those who are not used to living with them.
Occasional attacks by coyotes on pets and coyote aggression toward people (although rare) can trigger alarm from people who fear for the safety of their pets and children. To allay this, communities may feel they need to initiate wide scale programs to trap and kill coyotes.
These killing programs don’t work and are inhumane. Better solutions exist.
For more about techniques to solve coyote conflicts—what does work—go to:
http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/coyotes/tips/against_killing_coyotes.html
Photo by Sally Smith
One local woman encountered a coyote while walking her dog in my city, in my neighborhood, this winter. Her quick thinking and instinctive response turned a scary situation into a successful hazing. She was able to convince the coyote (with help) that she and her dog were not to be trifled with.
Here’s her story:
In mid-January at 7 p.m. I was walking my two-year-old furry friend whom I rescued in June—Zia, a Black Lab/Great Dane mix—on Pittsburg and 32nd Court near the Touchmark cottages [retirement community] here on the South Hill. A coyote came out of the “natural area” on the east side of the street as I was walking north, stopped, and then proceeded to walk toward us.
Zia was curious about this coyote, so I had a hard time getting her to keep moving on. I decided to walk into the Touchmark cottages on 32nd Court to avoid the coyote, and quickly discovered I had trapped myself. The coyote was blocking my way out of the cul-de-sac.
I began to shout, but it wouldn’t move. I was able to go to the day care and grab a yard sign stake. I began waving it around, shouting the entire time. The coyote backed away to the east side of the street by the natural area, but it did not retreat there. Who knows? Maybe the pack was waiting beyond the trees and bushes.
I was able to continue quickly northward toward 30th when an employee of Touchmark came out to her car and said, “Is that dog bothering you?” (The coyote had followed me northward on Pittsburg, but had stopped when the woman appeared.) I replied it was NOT a dog and to be careful going to her car. . . . She was able to get to her car and drove south toward the coyote. That is when the coyote retreated into the natural area.
I was so scared and hurried home. For years I have hiked through that natural area. Never again! I don’t even walk by there at night any more. I have heard of moose sightings as well. We had a moose a block away in the library parking lot a few years ago—I wouldn’t want to come upon a moose, either!
Anyway, that is my story.
And I did return the day care’s sign the next day, explaining to them why I had to take it.
Have you had an encounter with a coyote while walking your dog or at your home? How did you handle the situation? Have you, too, decided to avoid areas where coyotes have been spotted? Or have you adopted avoidance techniques that work for you, so you can continue to visit areas where coyotes live?
