How To Repel Coyotes From Your Yard

How to Repel Coyotes From Your Yard: A Comprehensive Guide

Coyotes, while fascinating creatures, can become a nuisance—even a threat—if they start frequenting your yard. Their presence can disrupt your peace of mind, endanger your pets, and potentially damage your property. This guide provides practical, humane, and effective methods to repel coyotes and keep them out of your yard.

Understanding Coyote Behavior: The First Step to Repelling Them

Before implementing any repellent strategies, it's crucial to understand why coyotes are attracted to your yard in the first place. Coyotes are opportunistic animals; they're drawn to readily available food sources, shelter, and breeding grounds. Identifying the attractants is the key to successful coyote deterrence.

Common Coyote Attractants:

• Pet Food: Leaving pet food outside, even for short periods, is an open invitation for coyotes.
• Garbage: Unsecured trash cans are a goldmine of food scraps.
• Fallen Fruit: Overripe fruit from trees or bushes provides an easy meal.
• Water Sources: A birdbath or leaky faucet can provide a convenient water source.
• Dens: Areas with dense brush or rock piles offer ideal shelter and denning sites.

Effective Coyote Repellents: A Multi-pronged Approach

Repelling coyotes requires a multi-faceted approach combining various deterrents. Relying on a single method might prove ineffective. The most successful strategies involve a combination of the following:

1. Eliminate Food Sources: The Foundation of Coyote Deterrence

• Secure Trash Cans: Invest in heavy-duty trash cans with locking lids to prevent access.
• Clean Up After Pets: Immediately remove pet waste and food.
• Harvest Fallen Fruit: Regularly collect fallen fruit from trees and bushes.
• Remove Bird Feeders: Coyotes might prey on birds attracted to feeders.

2. Make Your Yard Less Appealing: Creating an Inhospitable Environment

• Remove Dense Brush: Trim bushes and eliminate areas where coyotes can hide.
• Secure Fencing: Install a tall, sturdy fence to create a barrier. Consider burying the fence a few inches to prevent digging.
• Bright Lighting: Motion-activated lights can startle coyotes and deter them from entering.
• Reduce Water Sources: Repair leaky faucets and limit access to standing water.

3. Employ Sensory Deterrents: Frightening Coyotes Away

• Noisemakers: Motion-activated sprinklers, noise cannons, or ultrasonic devices can create startling noises that repel coyotes.
• Visual Deterrents: Place reflective tape or objects that move in the wind to create unsettling visual effects.
• Predator Urine: Coyote urine or wolf urine (available at pet stores) can mark your territory and deter other coyotes. Note: The effectiveness of this varies.

4. Consider Professional Help: When Necessary

If you've tried the above methods and are still experiencing problems with coyotes, consider contacting wildlife professionals or animal control. They can provide expert advice and potentially implement more advanced strategies.

Maintaining a Coyote-Free Yard: Ongoing Effort

Repelling coyotes is an ongoing effort, not a one-time fix. Consistent vigilance and the maintenance of deterrent strategies are crucial for long-term success. Regular inspections of your yard, removal of attractants, and upkeep of deterrents will significantly increase your chances of keeping coyotes away. Remember to prioritize humane methods; your goal is to deter, not harm, these wild animals.