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URBAN COYOTES
What you really need to know

Coyotes are one of the smartest mammals on the planet. They are one of three different types of wild dogs found in North America. The scientific name for Coyote is "Canis latrans": which literally means "barking dogs". Their barks are laced with distinctive and beautiful yips and howls. They are active both day and night, though most active at sunset, night and sunrise. Their coloration is usually gray, brown or tan with whitish accents. Coyotes have exceptional senses of smell, vision and hearing, so they have no trouble locating garbage, whether in cans or bags.

They may be unwelcome neighbors, but when the human population continues to move further into what was previously the realm of the wild animals such as coyote, deer and fox, confrontations with these animals will occur. They are forced to become "urban wildlife". In urban settings, the omnivorous coyote lives off small animals, some vegetation, insects, rodents and garbage. They are chiefly nocturnal, have a lifespan of 10-15 years in captivity and 8-10 years in the wild. Coyotes have been known to interbreed with domestic dogs, therefore it is extremely important to spay or neuter your pets. Female dogs in heat will actually attract coyotes and un-neutered male dogs are driven to seek out the female coyote in heat.

Although frustrating to deal with and heartbreaking when the family pet is injured or killed by coyotes, the problem of urban coyotes will not be solved by extermination. This will just further disturb our fragile eco-system. Coyotes are very important to the food chain because they eat large bugs, rodents such as mice, snakes, and carrion - dead animals that otherwise can cause problems. In a sense, they are Natures vacuum, cleaning up all that we would rather not have around!

Education and coexistence are the solution.
To maintain a successful coexistence, discourage coyotes from hanging around your property by doing the following immediately;