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Urban Coyotes: What are the issues?Urban Coyotes: What are the issues?
Lois A. Balin
Urban Wildlife Biologist
Texas Parks and Wildlife
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We All Make Value JudgmentsWe All Make Value Judgments
Is this Good or Bad?Is this Good or Bad?
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Why do some coyotes become
nuisance animals in urban areas?
Cities are subsidized environments for coyotes
Humans train coyotes to have behavior problems
Coyotes quickly adapt to urban/suburban living
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When managing urban coyotes, everyone has
a role to play
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TopicsTopics
What is a coyote?
What is a coyote?
What are the issues?
What are the issues?
What can we do about this?
What can we do about this?
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What is a coyote?What is a coyote?
Size of lanky German Shepherd
Pointed ears
Long tapered muzzle
Slender legs
Small feet
Yellow eyes
Uncurled bushy tai
Tail carried low
Color varies
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http://www.entm.purdue.edu/wildlife/coyote_pictures.htm
Scientific Name = Canis latrans means (barking dog)
11 different vocalizations!
Often called song dogs
Scientific Name = Canis latrans means (barking dog)
11 different vocalizations!
Often called song dogs
What is a coyote?What is a coyote?
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http://sunsite.tus.ac.jp/multimed/pics/animals/coyote.gif
AppearanceAppearance
Male - 2.9 Feet, ~ 33 lbsMale - 2.9 Feet, ~ 33 lbs
Female- 2.6 Feet, ~ 29 lbsFemale- 2.6 Feet, ~ 29 lbs
Tail
1.29 ft
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Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 2009
A good question is where do coyotes not live?A good question is where do coyotes not live?
http://www.canids.org/SPPACCTS/coyote.htm#Distribution
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Coyote Habitat
Extremely adaptable Grasslands, prairies, open / closed forest, canyons,
arroyos, rural, suburbia, and urban areas
Dens within 6 miles of water
Extremely adaptable Grasslands, prairies, open / closed forest, canyons,
arroyos, rural, suburbia, and urban areas
Dens within 6 miles of water
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Is this good
coyotehabitat?
Is this good
coyotehabitat?
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Is this good
coyotehabitat?
Yes
Is this good
coyotehabitat?
Yes
Food Water
Shelter
Space
Plus no enemies
It contains essential habitat
components for wildlife:
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4.93 Sq.Mi.
4.93 Sq.Mi.
2.22 miles2.22 miles
Home range 5 miles2
Travel 1-4 miles/night
Most active 10 PM to 12AM
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What do
coyotes eat?
The Far Side
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EVERYTHING
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EVERYTHING
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The urban coyote: a new adaptation
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Available Food in Suburbia and Urban Areas
Pet food Unsecured garbage
Landscape fruits & seeds
Compost piles Rabbits and rodents
Cats
Small dogs
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Reproductive BiologyReproductive Biology
Breed at 1.5 years
Breed January-May
63 day gestation
1 litter/year
Litter 2-12, avg. 6
Density Dependent
Breed at 1.5 years
Breed January-May
63 day gestation
1 litter/year
Litter 2-12, avg. 6
Density Dependent
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Remember, it is allINTERCONNECTED
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TopicsTopics
What is a coyote?What is a coyote?
What are the issues?What are the issues?
What can we do about this?What can we do about this?
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Coyote IssuesCoyote Issues Depredation damage
to livestock, crops,etc.
Disease
transmission
Hunting competition
Depredation damage
to livestock, crops,etc.
Disease
transmission
Hunting competition
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Rabies Incidents among
various mammals - 2005
Coyotes = 0
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Coyote IssuesCoyote Issues
Depredation
Disease
Hunting competition Coyotes attacking humans
Depredation
Disease
Hunting competition Coyotes attacking humans
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About 1 person/year is bitten by a coyote in CA.
1993 to 1997, 7 coyote attacks on humans inAZ.
1979 to 1999 domestic dogs killed > 300 people in USA
About 1 person/year is bitten by a coyote in CA.
1993 to 1997, 7 coyote attacks on humans inAZ.
1979 to 1999 domestic dogs killed > 300 people in USA
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Texas2 INCIDENTS
1988 - 2003, 89 incidents in southern California
Large population of coyotes, yet small numberof attacks
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Has anyone been fatally injured?Question:
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Unfortunately, yes,August, 1981 in Glendale, CA
Unattended 3 yr. old was mauled Hand-Feedingcoyotes in the area in the weeks
prior to the attack
Unfortunately, yes,August, 1981 in Glendale, CA
Unattended 3 yr. old was mauled Hand-Feedingcoyotes in the area in the weeks
prior to the attack
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Are these really coyote
problems?
Question:
Value Judgments
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TopicsTopics
What is a coyote? What is a coyote?
What are the issues? What are the issues?
What can we do about this? What can we do about this?
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Eliminate coyotes
Wildlife Services harvested
16,702coyotes in 2004
Eliminate coyotes
Wildlife Services harvested
16,702coyotes in 2004
Traditional Lethal Control
Integrated Pest Manageme
Reduce coyote damage
Aversive conditioning
Integrated Pest Manageme
Reduce coyote damage
Aversive conditioning
Non-Lethal Control
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Legally (and ecologically)
Trapped Coyote
=
Dead Coyote
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Non-lethal Methods to Reduce Coyote Damage
Use net-wire or electric fencing to keep coyotes out.
Use strobe lights and sirens to scare coyotes away.
Use guard animals, such as dogs, donkeys, and
llamas, to protect livestock.
Be PROACTIVE rather than REACTIVEBe PROACTIVE rather than REACTIVE
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The Progression of Problem Coyote
Behaviors
The 7 Warning Behaviors
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1. Increase in coyotes on streets and in yards at night
2. Increase in coyotes approaching adults and/or
taking pets at night
3. Coyotes on streets, and in parks and yards, in early
morning / late afternoon
4. Coyotes chasing or taking pets in daytime
5. Coyotes attacking and taking pets on leash or near
owners; chasing joggers, bicyclists, other adults
6. Coyotes seen in and around childrens play areas,
school grounds, and parks in mid-day
7. Coyotes acting aggressively toward adults in mid-
day
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#1 An increase in observing coyotes on
streets and in yards at night
Management Strategy: Begin detailed reporting (time, location, behavior)
Begin targeted educational efforts
Enact ordinances and enforce them
Management Strategy: Begin detailed reporting (time, location, behavior)
Begin targeted educational efforts
Enact ordinances and enforce them
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C
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Coyote responsible codes
NO INTENTIONAL FEEDING
NO FEEDING DUCKS
ENFORCE THE CODES
NO INTENTIONAL FEEDING
NO FEEDING DUCKS
ENFORCE THE CODES
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#2. Coyotes approaching adults and/or
taking pets at night
Management Strategy:
Continue detailed reporting
Begin broad educational efforts
Intensify ordinance enforcement
Initiate Passive Aversive Conditioning
Management Strategy:
Continue detailed reporting
Begin broad educational efforts
Intensify ordinance enforcement
Initiate Passive Aversive Conditioning
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Initiate Passive Aversion Conditioning
Get loud- Yell, shout, air horns, clap hands
Get big Raise arms and wave them about whilemaking a sudden move toward the animal.
Do not run away Acting fearful trains them tobelieve that were of no threat to them.
Chase them away Throw rocks/sticks at them
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#3. Early morning and late afternoon observance of
coyotes on streets, in parks, or yards
#3. Early morning and late afternoon observance of
coyotes on streets, in parks, or yards
Management Strategy: Continue detailed reporting
Continue intense educational efforts
Intensify ordinance enforcement
Begin Active Aversive Conditioning
Management Strategy: Continue detailed reporting
Continue intense educational efforts
Intensify ordinance enforcement
Begin Active Aversive Conditioning
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Begin Active Aversive Conditioning
Throw something (rock/stick)
Spray water
Aggressive
Be Persistent
No Pain, No Gain
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Management Strategy:
Continue detailed reporting
Continue intense educational efforts Continue intense ordinance enforcement
Begin Aggressive Aversive Conditioning
Management Strategy:
Continue detailed reporting
Continue intense educational efforts Continue intense ordinance enforcement
Begin Aggressive Aversive Conditioning
#4. Daylight observance of coyotes chasing
or taking pets
#4. Daylight observance of coyotes chasing
or taking pets
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Begin Aggressive Aversive Conditioning
Paintball guns Pepper spray
Less-than-lethal rounds
# A ki / ki i l i i
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#5. Attacking/taking pets in close proximity
to their owners, chasing joggers, bicyclists,
and adults
Management Strategy:
Continue detailed reporting
Continue intense educational efforts
Continue intense ordinance enforcement
Continue intense aversive conditioning
Consider targeted lethal removal
Management Strategy:
Continue detailed reporting
Continue intense educational efforts
Continue intense ordinance enforcement
Continue intense aversive conditioning
Consider targeted lethal removal
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#6. Seen at mid-day around childrens play
area, school grounds, or parks.
Management Strategy:
Continue detailed reporting
Continue intense educational efforts
Continue intense ordinance enforcement Continue intense aversive conditioning
Individual lethal removal
Management Strategy:
Continue detailed reporting
Continue intense educational efforts
Continue intense ordinance enforcement Continue intense aversive conditioning
Individual lethal removal
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#7. Coyotes acting aggressively
towards adults in mid-day.
Management Strategy:
Continue detailed reporting Continue intense educational efforts
Continue intense ordinance enforcement
Continue intense aversive conditioning
Lethal removal of several individuals
Management Strategy:
Continue detailed reporting Continue intense educational efforts
Continue intense ordinance enforcement
Continue intense aversive conditioning
Lethal removal of several individuals
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Tips to Prevent Nuisance Urban Coyotes
and to Reduce Coyote-Human Conflict
Never feed coyotes!
Eliminate sources of water
Careful with bird feeders
Do not discard edible garbage Secure garbage containers
Feed pets indoors
Dont leave small children unattended outside
Dont allow pets to run free.
U b C t Wh t th i ?U b C t Wh t th i ?
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When managing urban coyotes, everyone
has a role to play
Urban Coyotes: What are the issues?Urban Coyotes: What are the issues?
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Thanks
Lois Balin, Texas Parks and Wildlife
915-774-9603
L i b li @t d t t t