Urban coyotes

[jeepmor]

I have some friends that live next to a swampy section of land that has a small creek of a waterway running through it. It is roughly 200 yards wide and a few miles long, maybe longer. We are in the middle of western Portland Oregon suburbia and building pressure is ever confining the wetlands.

They have reported coyote howls, with estimates in the 10-15 coyotes in the pack. No one is losing cats to my knowledge, but how does one effectively deal with this besides just being locked up at night. Me, I would not go into the park area after dark unless I had my dogs or a pistol on at night, not with a pack that big.

I know I can contact animal control, but what advice should I offer my friends. I don't think they go out into the park at night, but there are a lot of small children in the area. I don't want to raise a panic or go on some covert coyote ops or anything. I was just wondering how a neighborhood could effectively deal with this on it's own. Waiting for the city to respond may take several lost pets before it actually gets addressed.

I thought about making or buying a live trap, dragging the critter back out the woods to release it from it's hide, then return home.

Any thoughts? Are they too smart for live traps? Are they so vicious I could not get the trap out of the area easily? Can't shoot it onsite, it's in the city with ordinance against firearms discharge and the area is pretty high density on the borders of the park. Typical cookie cutter, 3500 square foot lot with 1800 sqft house area put in by the hundreds of units area.

All thoughts welcome.

jeepmor

 

[AStone]

All thoughts welcome.

OK, here's mine.

1) I suggest that you distinguish between cougar, wolf & coyote.
2) Get a grip, and relax. Forget urban legend. Human life is not in danger from coyotes.
3) Watch for the cougars that live in your neighborhood (but let them live).
4) Don't worry about the wolves; they don't live in your neighborhood.
5) Sit back with a cold one on full moons and enjoy the coyote chorus.

I lived with coyotes for years in central NM.
Tricksters, maybe, but they are unlikely to rip your throat out or carry off your kids.

They're small dogs that feed on rodents & rabbits.
They don't bring down deer, let alone elk or humans.

Nem

 

[AStone]

They don't bring down deer...

I'll correct myself before someone else does.

At least hypothetically, coyotes may indeed bring down "adult deer".

I'm still not losing sleep. A coyote has to be pretty darned hungry to go after an adult deer.

(Note: no report yet of coyotes eating humans...)

The Coyote Diet

What do New York coyotes eat? A coyote's diet depends on one thing - what is easiest to find or catch and kill. During the summer, coyotes will feed heavily upon berries, insects, and rodents. During early fall they rely on abundant grasshoppers. Small mammals become the prey of choice during late fall and winter. As winter becomes harder and small mammal populations decline, coyotes turn toward their largest prey - whitetail deer. Deer killed by vehicles and other causes (carrion) can be an important food source for coyotes. Lacking any carrion, coyotes can, will, and do kill healthy adult deer. Coyotes in the spring time can have an impact on fawn survival in localized areas.

 

[jeepmor]

15 chihauhas could be a threat

Okay, maybe not, but 15 hungry coyotes could definitely reduce the cat population in the area.

But my point was, how can I trap them, get them out of the area and into a nice wall rug or two. All without using a firearm in city limits.

jeepmor

 

[Karbon]

QUOTE]Okay, maybe not, but 15 hungry coyotes could definitely reduce the cat population in the area.[/QUOTE]

You say that like it's a bad thing?

(Dog guy)

 

[Art Eatman]

"They have reported coyote howls, with estimates in the 10-15 coyotes in the pack."

Yeah, two or three coyotes will indeed sound like a giant mob. They're really talented at that.

Me, I wouldn't do a thing but sit back and listen to 'em yodel. Neat! There's no point in bothering Wily Coyote, if you're not in the backyard-chicken bidness.

Hey, coyotes love feral cats, and feral cats are rough on songbirds, so I figure having coyotes around is pure profit.

One thing you could do, if you have rabbits around: Get a wounded-rabbit call and see if you can get some action. Good practice. I grant that you can set off every dog in the neighborhood, however...

, Art

 

[wanderinwalker]

Relax. The pack probably isn't THAT big and it isn't a threat to people, just small mammals and things of that sort.

We have lots of coyotes around here. Our Eastern variety is generally bigger than the western variety. The coyotes have a tendency to bug out real fast when they see people. I've only ever seen two or three that paused to look where they came from, and they only stopped because they didn't know they were being watched.

So just kick back and enjoy the chorus. Nothing like sitting out on a crisp October night with the pack up on the mountain singing away to a big full moon!

(But yeah, if'n we were to ever see one with a gun ready, you'd better believe he'd have some lead going his way if it was prudent to do so. And I have nothing against people shooting them for pelts either.)

 

[Len]

I agree. At the farm, the "midnight chorus" is a nightly event, and I kind of like it, too.

Only thing I have to contribute to the conversation is this: relocating coyotes who thrive in a geographical location would be tough. If you were even able to do it, others would move in...

I've actually seen more predation of domestic animals by owls [taking cats] and foxes [usually chickens]. Even those instances are rare. The times that I hear the coyotes closest? In the springtime, they're around the water ponds at night...and I believe they're going for frogs. Not sure, but that's what the local DNR guy seems to think, and it sounds about right.

 

[cordex]

I've got some neat experience with 'yotes that includes driving across four states with a semi-domesticated coyote in the back of a vehicle.

Twice.

This was the guy, actually:


They're interesting critters and typically not inclined towards attacking humans.
If they aren't killing off your pets or livestock, probably best to let 'em be.

 

[Nathan Williams]

No discharging firearms....no problem get a crossbow.... or you could just relax, I hate yotes but they are of no danger to humans they run away from us even in packs. As far as dragging down deer go they only go after the sick ones, Interesting fact about coyotes in IME there is only one part of the deer I have ever seen coyotes eat the sphincter figure that out.

 

[killzone]

Are silencers allowed in your area? If so,,, you know, take good cover in high camo... the rest is up to how well you aim,,,,

 

[mete]

In an urban setting you can't use a gun , traps may catch domestic pets . Leave it to the animal control . Coyotes in the east can easily be 65-70 lbs .They hunt individually for small game but work in packs to take deer !

 

[CTD99]

OK, here's mine.

1) I suggest that you distinguish between cougar, wolf & coyote.
2) Get a grip, and relax. Forget urban legend. Human life is not in danger from coyotes.
3) Watch for the cougars that live in your neighborhood (but let them live).
4) Don't worry about the wolves; they don't live in your neighborhood.
5) Sit back with a cold one on full moons and enjoy the coyote chorus.

I lived with coyotes for years in central NM.
Tricksters, maybe, but they are unlikely to rip your throat out or carry off your kids.

They're small dogs that feed on rodents & rabbits.
They don't bring down deer, let alone elk or humans.

Nem

Nem, With all due respect I have to disagree with your assessment of yotes. I have personally seen a pack take down a full size doe. She may have been weak due to a hard winter, but they did take her down. Around here they do herd off sheep, then kill them in a quiet area away from Farmer Jones, and they will take small dogs & cats if they are available to them. There have been reports of yotes carrying off & killing small kids in California because the neighborhood thought they were tame and were not concerned about their proximity to their homes. They were wrong.

http://www.geocities.com/DesertCoyote_99/coypeop.htm

 

[freedom and guns]

Jeep

If this is true and if what I am going tosay is legal you need some of those leg breaking snares or maybe a figure 4 deadfall. They both Might work well (or might not depending on how smart the local 'yotes are) And they usually ARE and have the potential to be Dangerous.

 

[Ed Ames]

Coyotes are fairly harmless.

I'm in an area with a lot of coyotes. It is usual to hear them at night... usual to see them night and day... they are second only to rabbits in the local informal roadkill census....

They may be slightly annoying if you don't like their yapping (which is a bit weird sounding until you get used to it) but annoying isn't the same thing as hazardous to humans. I'm far more worried about mountain lions, and there are probably fewer than 6,000 mountain lions in the entire state, compared to 250,000-750,000 coyotes. Coyotes are a disease vector and shouldn't be messed with but they aren't particularly effective predators when it comes to pet-sized and larger animals. A neighbor of mine has several outdoor cats... has had them forever as far as I can tell... same damned cats year after year. Coyotes never get any of them. That's not totally true... I think one of the cats is down to three legs... but there are always cats hanging around the area, wandering around in the undeveloped land, dragging dead rabbits under my porch, and so on.... Why? Coyotes, like the cats, prefer to eat rats and rabbits.

 

[NorCalRifleman]

They have reported coyote howls, with estimates in the 10-15 coyotes in the pack. No one is losing cats to my knowledge, but how does one effectively deal with this besides just being locked up at night. Me, I would not go into the park area after dark unless I had my dogs or a pistol on at night, not with a pack that big.

I wouldn't stress. Coyotes are not about to attempt to take down a grown man, even as a pack. The only attacks on humans I've heard of are on small children. If nobody has lost a cat, then they probably have plenty of food.

I thought about making or buying a live trap, dragging the critter back out the woods to release it from it's hide, then return home.

Careful, some states have laws against transporting live coyotes due to rabies quarantines and other such reasons. They are also usually covered in fleas, so if you are around one, dead or alive, cover up.

Any thoughts? Are they too smart for live traps? Are they so vicious I could not get the trap out of the area easily? Can't shoot it onsite, it's in the city with ordinance against firearms discharge and the area is pretty high density on the borders of the park. Typical cookie cutter, 3500 square foot lot with 1800 sqft house area put in by the hundreds of units area.

All thoughts welcome.

I've heard that they are too smart for live traps and if they have plenty of food, they probably aren't desparate enough. If you're really intent on taking them out though, I would suggest a weapon other than a firearm, such as a bow, crossbow or an airgun. I know what you're thinking, and airgun sounds lightweight, but they can be made powerful enough to take down buffalo. If you don't mind the price tag a powerful airgun can be had around $600 from Quackenbush Airguns. They are loud, but it isn't necessarily to silence an airgun. Then if you do manage to get one in a trap, you don't have to move him to free him of his fur. Be careful about disposing of the remains though, that's a great way to attract even more coyotes.

Just a thought. A way cheaper route would be a $50 pistol crossbow. Whatever works for you.

Oh, just in case you don't believe me about the airgun.

 

[Sunray]

I've seen one in downtown Mississauga. That's a suburb of Toronto, Ontario. There's millions of people living in the area. Wiley has a great deal of natural food in TO. Rabbits, coons, squirrels, etc. And yes, deer. Although he'd have a time with a healthy deer. The small game and deer hunting would be fabulous if it weren't for all the people. Know a guy who got a deer with a BMW some time back. We can keep road kill as long as we report it. The insurance companies are paying out millions in Southern Ontario.
Wiley is not interested in you or your friends any more than Yogi is.
Wiley is living quite comfortably on a golf course in downtown Vancouver too.
Wiley is not vicious. Wiley has just adapted to his environment. Your friends have more to worry about with the neighbour's dog and two legged predators in the park at night than Wiley.

 

[jeepmor]

Wiley is well....Wiley

Yes I do suspect my friends exaggerated quite a bit on the size of the pack, but again, none of them have actually seen them either. I do have some coyote and rabbit calls. Maybe I should look at it more as an opportunity to practice my calling instead...yeah, that's it.

No, I don't suppose I'll be doing anything about them, but wanted to hear what my options were. My options appear to be limited to calling animal control and nothing more if I wish to stay within the bounds of the law: Which I do. Any trapping that could hurt, maim or kill them is out due to the kid population density.

I think I'll take throw my calls in my car for the next time we visit those friends. Maybe I can pull them in so we can catch a glimpse of them.

Myself, I like the howling too, it is quite enjoyable.

jeepmor

 

[mbt2001]

The great thing about living in an "urban" setting is that you can go out an get a .22 rifle and shoot .22 shorts out of it and I seriously doubt that anyone qould distinguish between those and some kids that have some fireworks. Be careful about which rifle you buy, they do not all shoot .22 shorts. Revolver can also shoot shorts.

You could use CB caps too, but I don't think those will take a coyote except at very very close range (feet not yards). 22 short would give you about 30 - 50 yards. I would only use Head / neck shot.

The reason I am recommending a firearm is in case of rabid dogs... All carrion eater have a higher than usual chance of going rabid.

But I rather enjoy coyotes.

Oh yeah, get a dog. A big one. A Boxer or something that can take care of himself and I doubt you will have problem one. A boxer would destroy even 3 or 4 coyotes they came around.

 

[p35]

My neighbor had a problem with a pack of 'yotes that went after his pit bull mix. The dog grabbed one, two others grabbed his back legs so he had to let go. The pack was tag teaming the dog, taking turns wearing him out so they could drag him out in the woods and eat him. The neighbor broke it up with a shotgun, but if not for that, the dog would have disappeared.

I wouldn't count on any single dog to take on a pack of 'yotes and survive, let alone win. They're too good at teamwork.

 

[mbt2001]

Didn't really think of it that way. I have seen certain instances where dogs have prevailed, but didn't think about the tag team thing...