Control and Management of Coyotes
(Canis latrans)
Coyotes can cause a tremendous amount of
damage through their predation on livestock, family pets, and even
agriculture. Coyotes eat small livestock, poultry, watermelon and certain truck
and field crops.
Photo Credits: Edward D. Kellems Coyotes as predators Description: Hemorrhaging in flesh of victim
indicates its death by predation rather than by scavenging.
Biology of the Coyote
Coyote pups at den site Photo Credits: NEBRASKALAND Magazine/Nebraska
Game and Parks Comm. photo.
Coyote predation typically increases in the spring as the parents seek to
feed their hungry young.
Coloration of the coyote can vary widely and so should not be used to
identify a coyote without other corroborating evidence. Note the photos
below.
The photo on the left shows a typical brown to tan colored coyote pelt.
However, the photo on the right shows a black colored coyote.
coyote fur
Description: can range from reds to grays and browns
Photo Credits: Dallas Virchow
Coyote-rare color
Description: This black coyote is very rare as are albinos. But
color commonly ranges across gray-brown-red.
Photo Credits: Edward D. Kellems
Coyote Sign
Coyotes
leave dog-like prints
Photo Credits: NEBRASKALAND Magazine
Damage Caused by Coyotes
- Attack pets, pets weighing less than 30 pounds are particularly at
risk
- Attack livestock, especially sheep
- Eat watermelon
- Human attacks, though rare, do occur. Taylor Mitchell was killed
by a pack of coyotes in Nova Scotia, Canada in October of 2009.
Living with Coyotes
Safety & Disease
- Coyotes can attack pets, small children and even adults.
- Coyotes can carry mange, rabies and other diseases.
Coyote Control Methods
Habitat Modification
- Wire mesh and/or electric fences
- Change herding management
- Pasture selection where coyote habitat is minimal
- Carrion removal
- Donkeys and llamas & guard
dogs,
- House young livestock; fall lambing or
calving; synchronizing breeding of livestock;
Frightening Devices
Frightening Agent Sirens and strobe lights such as the
Electronic Guard, propane exploders and vehicles or human effigies
may temporarily deter wary animals. well-placed lights, such as
above sheep corrals
Repellents
Trapping
A wide variety of traps are available for the capture of coyotes. Unfortunately, many of the effective tools for captureing coyotes have been perceived to be inhumane by certain segments of society. We hope that the information provided by this web site will help the public adopt a more balanced and accurate understanding of these controversial tools.
- Foot-hold traps,
- Padded-jaw foothold traps
- Snares,
- Cable restraints, and
- Cage traps.
Cage trapping coyotes is extremely difficult. Catching two coyotes at
the same time in a cage trap rises to the level of winning the PowerBall
Lottery.
Photo Credits: Wes Patrick
Scents,
baits, and other flavors and odors are used for most
carnivores and for beaver. Photo Credits: Dallas Virchow
Shooting
- .223, 22-250, 25-06, and 245 caliber rifles, shotguns,
- Calling coyotes with handheld or electronic devices,
- hunting with dogs, aerial
hunting,
- Denning
Toxicants & Fumigants
- M-44 (professionals use only)
Predator Control Device (M-44) Description: Used only by USDA agency
personnel specifically for canines Photo Credits: Dallas Virchow
These links are comprised of pages dedicated to providing more
information on the biology and control of coyotes. Before initiating any
coyote control measures be sure to check with appropriate federal and
state agencies. Links to those agencies can be found in the navigation
bar above.
- Livestock Protection Collar;
- Gas cartridges as burrow fumigants;
Coyote Damage Management Publications
Coyote Information Page--Kansas State Univ.
Lots of info
Coyote Control in the Eastern U.S.--Michigan
State University
How to Call Coyotes--Kansas State University
Living with California Coyotes--California Fish
& Game Dept.
Predation by Coyotes & Other Predators to
Livestock or Poultry--Virginia PolyTech
Reducing Coyote Predation Through Sheep
Management--University of Nevada PDF
Reduction of Coyote Predation on Louisiana
Livestock--USDA Environmental Assessment PDF
Snares for Capturing Coyotes--Kansas State
University
Understanding the Coyote
--Kansas State
University
Coyote-Florida's Newest Predator --University
of Florida
Coyote Management-University of Kentucky
April 10, 2007. Coyote Attacks Child. Asbury Park Press.
Nov 20, 2006.
Boy fends off coyote. Edmonton Sun News.
Oct 22, 2006.
MA coyotes
like cats. Sentinel & Enterprise.
Oct 19, 2006.
Coyote attack in CT.
April 27, 2006. Boys Nipped by Coyote. BostonChannel.com
Workshops
The
Intenet Center has run a variety of wildlife damage management workshops,
including one on Urban Coyote Management Workshop (April 21, 2011). If you
or your organization would like to have training, please contact us.
News