Coyotes showing up near your home can be scary. Many people wonder how to keep these wild animals from coming into their yards. The good news is there are simple ways to make your yard less appealing to coyotes. You can use different methods to stop them from visiting. This guide shares how to make your home and yard safer. It tells you about simple steps and things you can use.
Image Source: lookaside.fbsbx.com
Grasping Why Coyotes Come Close
Coyotes look for three main things. They need food, water, and shelter. Your yard might have these things. If it does, coyotes see your yard as a good place to be. This is why they come closer to houses. Learning what draws them in is the first step. You can then take away the things they want. This is a key part of coyote prevention methods.
Food Lures Coyotes
Coyotes are hunters. But they will eat many things. Trash smells like food to them. Pet food left outside is easy food. Birdseed on the ground is also a meal. Fruit that falls from trees can feed them too. Small animals like mice or rabbits living in your yard are also food. Coyotes come where food is easy to find.
Water Sources Attract Coyotes
Just like any animal, coyotes need water. A leaky faucet can be a water source. Bird baths hold water. Pet water bowls left outside are also used. Even puddles after rain can give them a drink. Taking away easy water helps make your yard less nice for them.
Shelter and Hiding Spots
Coyotes need places to rest. They also need places to hide. Bushes can be shelter. Tall grass offers cover. Spaces under decks or sheds are safe spots. Messy yards with lots of places to hide are attractive. Cleaning up your yard removes these hiding spots.
Removing What Coyotes Want
Taking away what coyotes look for is the best way to start. This is how you remove coyote attractants. This step is very important. It makes your yard less interesting to them.
Securing Your Trash
Trash cans are like open buffets for coyotes. They have many good smells.
- Use trash cans made of strong metal or plastic.
- Make sure lids fit tight.
- Use bungee cords to hold lids down.
- Put trash cans out only on the morning the truck comes.
- Bring empty cans back inside right away.
- Wash trash cans sometimes. This gets rid of smells.
Managing Food for Pets and Wildlife
Never leave pet food outside. Feed pets inside your home. If you must feed pets outside, pick up food bowls right after they eat. Don’t leave food out all day or night.
Be careful with feeding birds. Birdseed on the ground feeds coyotes. Use feeders that catch seeds. Clean up spills often. Do not feed other wild animals like deer or raccoons. This food can also bring coyotes closer.
Picking Up Fallen Fruit
If you have fruit trees, pick up fruit that falls. Ripe fruit on the ground is food for coyotes. Pick fruit as soon as it is ready. Clean up all fallen fruit right away.
Cleaning Your Grill
Food smells stay on grills. Clean your grill often. Make sure food bits are gone. Cover the grill well when not in use.
Controlling Small Animals
Coyotes hunt small animals. Keep your yard less friendly to rabbits and mice. Mow your lawn often. Trim bushes. This gives small animals fewer places to hide. With fewer small animals, coyotes have less reason to visit.
Making Your Yard Less Welcoming
Beyond removing food and water, you can make your yard a place coyotes do not like. These are wildlife deterrents backyard ideas. They make coyotes feel unsafe or bothered.
Lighting Up Your Yard
Coyotes feel safer in the dark. Bright lights can scare them. Install motion-sensor lights. Place them around your yard. Put them near trash cans. Put them near places coyotes might enter. When a coyote walks into the yard, the sudden light turns on. This can scare them away.
Using Scary Sounds
Loud noises can also scare coyotes. Air horns can work. Yelling loudly can scare them too. Some people use motion-activated alarms. These make a sudden noise when a coyote comes near. Be careful not to bother your neighbors too much.
Trying Different Smells
Some smells might keep coyotes away. There are products sold as coyote repellent for yards. These often use smells coyotes do not like. Smells like fox urine or strong spices are sometimes used. Their success can be different. Read labels carefully. Use them as the bottle says. Some natural smells might help a little. But removing food is usually more effective.
Keeping Your Yard Tidy
A messy yard gives coyotes places to hide and rest.
- Cut your grass often.
- Trim bushes back. Keep them away from the house.
- Clean up piles of leaves or brush.
- Store woodpiles neatly off the ground.
- Close off spaces under decks and sheds. Use wire mesh or boards.
A clean, open yard makes coyotes feel exposed. They prefer to be hidden.
Building Physical Barriers
One of the best ways to keep coyotes away from home is using fences. A strong fence can stop them from getting into your yard at all. This is coyote proof fence installation.
What Makes a Fence Coyote Proof?
Coyotes can jump and climb. They can also dig. A fence must stop all three ways of getting in.
- Height: Fences should be at least 6 feet tall. Taller is better if coyotes are a big problem. Coyotes can jump high.
- Top: Add an extension at the top that angles outwards. This makes climbing harder. Wire mesh rolled outwards at the top works well.
- Bottom: Coyotes are good diggers. You need to stop them from digging under the fence. Bury the fence bottom. Bury wire mesh (like welded wire) at least 12 inches deep. Bend the bottom 6 inches of the mesh outwards in an ‘L’ shape. Bury this bent part. This acts as a digging barrier. When the coyote tries to dig, they hit the mesh.
Types of Fences
Different fence materials can work. Chain-link fences are common. Make sure the mesh is small enough. Coyotes might squeeze through large holes. Wood fences can work if they are solid. Make sure there are no gaps. Electric fences can also deter coyotes. These give a mild shock. They need careful setup and upkeep.
Checking Your Fence
A fence only works if it is in good shape. Check your fence often. Look for holes or weak spots. Look for places coyotes might have tried to dig. Fix any damage right away. This keeps the fence a strong barrier.
Actively Scaring Coyotes Away
If you see a coyote in your yard or near your home, you should try to scare it. This is called hazing. Hazing teaches coyotes that being near people is not safe or easy. It is part of scaring away coyotes.
Why Hazing Helps
Coyotes that are not afraid of people can become bold. They might come closer and closer. Hazing makes them afraid again. It helps them keep their natural fear of humans. This is good for both you and the coyote. It helps prevent problems.
How to Haze a Coyote
Make yourself look big. Wave your arms. Shout loudly. Use a deep voice. Throw small objects towards (not at) the coyote. Make loud noises. Bang pots and pans. Use an air horn or whistle.
- Be Loud: Yell, scream, make noise.
- Look Big: Stand tall, wave arms.
- Use Objects: Throw small stones, sticks (near them, not hitting them).
- Make Scary Noises: Use air horn, whistle, pots/pans.
Keep hazing until the coyote leaves. Do not turn your back and run away. This can make them think you are prey. Walk away slowly if they leave.
What NOT to Do
Do not feed a coyote. Do not try to make friends with it. Do not run away. Do not let pets chase it. Hazing is about making them feel unwelcome and scared, not harmed.
Protecting Your Beloved Pets
Coyotes see small pets as prey. Larger pets can also be at risk. Protect pets from coyotes by taking simple steps.
Supervise Pets Outside
Never leave small pets outside alone. This includes dogs and cats. Coyotes are often most active at dawn and dusk. But they can hunt any time. Go outside with your pet. Watch them closely. Keep dogs on a leash.
Secure Pet Areas
If your pet needs to be outside sometimes, make their area safe. A strong fence around the yard is key (see coyote proof fence installation). A secure dog run with a top cover is even safer for smaller dogs when unsupervised briefly.
Keep Cats Inside
Cats are very easy prey for coyotes. It is safest to keep cats inside all the time. This protects them from coyotes and other dangers.
Bring Pets Inside at Night
Coyotes hunt at night. Always bring pets inside before it gets dark. Do not let them out again until the sun is up.
Do Not Let Pets Interact with Coyotes
If you see a coyote when you are out with your dog, keep your dog close. Walk calmly away. Do not let your dog bark or try to engage with the coyote. This can lead to a dangerous fight.
Considering Humane Options
Many ways to deter coyotes are also humane. Humane coyote deterrents aim to make coyotes leave without hurting them.
Methods That Are Humane
Most methods discussed are humane.
- Removing food and water sources.
- Cleaning up the yard.
- Using lights and sounds (hazing).
- Putting up fences.
- Using smell repellents (check product safety).
These methods make the area unpleasant for the coyote. They do not cause the coyote pain or injury. The goal is to make the coyote move on to a different area.
Why Humane Matters
Using humane methods is better for the animal and for people. It respects wildlife. It also avoids problems that can come from harming animals. Injured coyotes can be more unpredictable. Also, removing one coyote often just makes space for another. Humane methods change the environment so coyotes don’t want to stay.
Solutions for City Living
Living in a city or suburb does not mean you won’t see coyotes. Urban coyote problems solutions are needed more and more. Coyotes have learned to live near people. They use parks, green spaces, and even streets to travel.
City Coyote Behaviors
City coyotes might be less afraid of people. They learn to use human food sources. They might travel during the day more often. But the basic reasons they come are the same: food, water, shelter.
City Deterrence Steps
The same rules apply in the city:
- Do not feed coyotes, ever.
- Secure trash cans tightly.
- Do not leave pet food out.
- Supervise pets outside.
- Keep yards clean and tidy.
- Use hazing if you see a coyote.
Cities might have rules about fences or using certain deterrents. Check with your local city rules.
Working with Neighbors
Coyotes travel over large areas. Your efforts work best if neighbors do the same things. Talk to your neighbors. Share tips on keep coyotes away from home. Work together to keep the whole area less attractive to coyotes. This is key for urban coyote problems solutions.
What to Do If You See a Coyote
If you see a coyote in your city neighborhood:
- Do not panic.
- Do not run.
- Pick up small children and pets.
- Haze the coyote until it leaves.
- Report coyote sightings if your city asks you to. This helps track them.
Most city coyotes try to avoid people. Problems usually happen when coyotes lose their fear. Hazing helps keep that fear.
Combining Methods for Best Results
Using just one method might help a little. But using many methods together works best. This uses different coyote prevention methods at once. It makes your yard very unwelcoming.
Look at this table showing different methods:
| Method | How it Works | Best For | Effort Needed | Cost | Humane |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secure Trash | Removes food source | All yards | Low | Low | Yes |
| Remove Pet Food/Water | Removes food/water source | All yards | Low | Low | Yes |
| Clean Yard | Removes shelter/prey hiding | All yards | Low-Medium | Low | Yes |
| Motion Lights | Scares with sudden light | Yard edges | Medium | Medium | Yes |
| Sound Devices | Scares with sudden noise | Yard edges | Medium | Medium | Yes |
| Coyote Repellent Sprays | Uses bad smells | Yard edges | Low | Medium | Varies |
| Fence Installation | Creates physical barrier | Whole yard | High | High | Yes |
| Supervise Pets | Protects pets directly | Pet owners | Medium | Low | Yes |
| Hazing Coyotes Seen | Re-teaches fear of humans | Any sighting | Low | Low | Yes |
| Burying Fence Bottom | Stops digging | Fence lines | High (initial) | Medium | Yes |
| Angled Fence Tops | Stops climbing | Fence tops | High (initial) | Medium | Yes |
Combining these methods makes your property a difficult place for coyotes. They will likely look for easier places to find food and shelter. This helps keep coyotes away from home.
Important Safety Notes
While deterring coyotes, always think about safety.
- Never approach a coyote closely.
- Do not corner a coyote. Give it space to run away.
- If a coyote seems sick or acts strangely (like being very bold without hazing), report it to local animal control.
- Teach children what to do if they see a coyote: stand tall, be loud, tell an adult.
- Small children are at higher risk. Never leave them alone outside where coyotes are known to be.
Taking steps to deter coyotes helps keep your yard and your pets safe. It also helps keep coyotes wild and healthy by teaching them to avoid people. These simple coyote prevention methods are good for everyone.
FAQs About Coyotes and Your Yard
Can coyotes climb fences?
Yes, coyotes are good climbers. Fences need to be tall (at least 6 feet) and have features at the top that make climbing hard, like an outward-angled extension.
Do coyote repellent products really work?
Their success varies a lot. Some may help a little because of smells coyotes don’t like. But they are usually not a magic fix. Removing food and securing your yard are more reliable.
What time of day are coyotes most active?
Coyotes are often most active around dawn and dusk. However, especially in urban areas, they can be seen and active any time of day or night, especially if they are used to finding food from human sources.
How deep should I bury my fence to stop coyotes from digging?
You should bury fence material, like wire mesh, at least 12 inches deep. Bending the bottom 6 inches outwards in an ‘L’ shape before burying it adds extra protection against digging.
Is hazing coyotes mean?
No, hazing is not mean. It is a way to teach coyotes that being near people is not safe for them. It helps them keep their natural fear of humans. This protects both people and coyotes by reducing conflicts. It is a humane coyote deterrent.
Will getting rid of mice and rabbits in my yard help?
Yes, it will help. Coyotes hunt small animals. Making your yard less attractive to their prey means it is less attractive to the coyotes too. Keeping grass short and trimming bushes helps.
Should I feed the coyotes so they don’t hunt my pets?
No, absolutely not. Never feed coyotes. Feeding coyotes makes them lose their fear of people. It teaches them to come closer to homes looking for food. This makes problems worse and puts pets and people at greater risk.
My neighbor feeds outdoor cats. Does this attract coyotes?
Yes, it likely does. The cat food itself attracts coyotes. The outdoor cats can also attract coyotes as prey. Talk to your neighbor about the risks and suggest feeding cats inside or securing the feeding area very well. This is a common cause of urban coyote problems solutions being needed.
What if I see a coyote and I have my small child with me?
Pick up your child right away. Stand tall. Make yourself look big. Yell loudly at the coyote. Back away slowly without turning your back if the coyote does not leave. Do not run.
Can I use loud noises like firecrackers to scare coyotes?
While loud noises can scare coyotes (scaring away coyotes), using things like firecrackers may not be legal where you live. They can also start fires or upset many neighbors and pets. Air horns, whistles, or simply yelling are better options for hazing. Check local laws before using any loud device.