Coyotes
Coyotes are carnivorous scavenging canines that inhabit
many regions of North America. They are a highly versatile species whose range has expanded amidst human environmental modification and continues
to grow with greater land development. Coyotes are gregarious and weigh an average of 15- 45
pounds with a pointed snout and a mixed coat colour of grey, black,
brown, red, and white.
Further information
Coyotes
Further information
Coyotes
Coyotes in Urban Areas
Edmonton’s geography includes a biodiverse river valley, multiple large parks, and vast landscapes, making it a desirable habitat for wildlife. Coyotes generally avoid humans, even when their home range encompasses largely urban habitats. However, the presence of effortless meals in the form of pet food, free-roaming pets, or garbage can lure coyotes into urban and suburban yards and cause coyotes to associate backyards with bountiful feeding areas. Without the lure of food or other attractants, their visits will be brief and rare. However, a coyote that finds food in one yard may learn to search for food in others. In addition to food, coyotes can be drawn into backyards seeking shelter, such as junk piles or sheds, that they can hide and find refuge in.
Further information
What lures coyotes into your yard
Further information
What lures coyotes into your yard
Encountering Coyotes
When humans and wildlife share common urban space, undesirable interactions may occur, including animal-vehicle collisions, damage to lawns and landscaping, transmission of zoonotic diseases, and wild animal attacks on pets, and rarely, people. In order to avoid unfavourable encounters with coyotes, it is important to know how to react if a confrontation occurs.
While normally fearful of people, coyotes can sometimes be spotted crossing yards or streets. This behaviour is not unusual, especially in residential areas bordering on open space where coyotes find their natural prey. They may simply be taking a shortcut to their favorite hunting ground. This type of sighting generally requires no response other than making sure that pets and children are secure and that there are no likely food attractants present in the area.
Coyotes are naturally nervous animals and will usually retreat at the sight of a human. If they linger or approach, it is time to begin “hazing.” This is a term applied to the following actions that can be taken to scare coyotes and chase them away:
Some coyotes may freeze and stare, or run a short distance and stop. Hazing should be continued until the coyote gets the message and finally leaves the scene. Hazing should never be attempted if the coyote is accompanied by pups or appears to be sick or injured because these factors make the animal unpredictable. For these circumstances, avoidance is the best strategy.
Further information
What to do if you encounter a coyote
Tips for encountering a coyote
While normally fearful of people, coyotes can sometimes be spotted crossing yards or streets. This behaviour is not unusual, especially in residential areas bordering on open space where coyotes find their natural prey. They may simply be taking a shortcut to their favorite hunting ground. This type of sighting generally requires no response other than making sure that pets and children are secure and that there are no likely food attractants present in the area.
Coyotes are naturally nervous animals and will usually retreat at the sight of a human. If they linger or approach, it is time to begin “hazing.” This is a term applied to the following actions that can be taken to scare coyotes and chase them away:
- Be as big and loud as possible. Do not run or turn your back.
- Wave your arms, clap your hands, and shout in an authoritative voice.
- Make noise by banging pots and pans or using an air horn or whistle.
- Throw small stones, sticks, tennis balls or anything else you can lay your hands on. Remember the intent is to scare and not to injure.
- Spray with a hose, if available, or a squirt gun filled with water and vinegar.
- Shake or throw a “coyote shaker”—a soda can filled with pennies or pebbles and sealed with duct tape.
Some coyotes may freeze and stare, or run a short distance and stop. Hazing should be continued until the coyote gets the message and finally leaves the scene. Hazing should never be attempted if the coyote is accompanied by pups or appears to be sick or injured because these factors make the animal unpredictable. For these circumstances, avoidance is the best strategy.
Further information
What to do if you encounter a coyote
Tips for encountering a coyote
Creating a Healthy Backyard
Coyotes have a positive effect within the ecosystem by balancing populations. Coyotes are a keystone species, meaning that their presence or absence has a significant impact on the surrounding biological community. Coyotes can have a regulatory effect on smaller predators. For these reasons, it is important to construct a backyard that is impartial to the presence of coyotes.
A healthy backyard is one that encourages natural wildlife interactions while keeping both humans and animals safe. Healthy backyards are achieved by eliminating food sources liked by coyotes, removing potential shelters, such as junk piles, appropriately, and keeping pets within view at all times. It is important to note that because coyotes and dogs are both members of the Canidae family they can transmit numerous diseases to each other. Coyotes have been shown to carry parvovirus and canine distemper which are highly contagious to dogs and can have detrimental consequences to a dog's health.
Further information
How to keep coyotes out of your yard
Parvovirus
Distemper
A healthy backyard is one that encourages natural wildlife interactions while keeping both humans and animals safe. Healthy backyards are achieved by eliminating food sources liked by coyotes, removing potential shelters, such as junk piles, appropriately, and keeping pets within view at all times. It is important to note that because coyotes and dogs are both members of the Canidae family they can transmit numerous diseases to each other. Coyotes have been shown to carry parvovirus and canine distemper which are highly contagious to dogs and can have detrimental consequences to a dog's health.
Further information
How to keep coyotes out of your yard
Parvovirus
Distemper
Zoonotic Diseases
Zoonotic diseases are infectious diseases that can be transmitted between animals and humans. Echinococcus is the most significant human-coyote zoonotic disease concern.
Humans can become infected if they ingest substances contaminated with Echinococcus eggs. The eggs then release larvae in the small intestine which eventually mature and develop into hydatid cysts which leads to Cystic Hydatid Disease. Symptoms of this disease include:
The best way to prevent Cystic Hydatid Disease is to wash your hands thoroughly after picking up anything from the ground as it could be contaminated with Echinococcus eggs.
Further information
Echinococcosis
Echinococcus in Alberta
- Stomach upset
- Diarrhoea
- Unexplained weight loss
- Swollen abdomen
- Anemia
- Weakness and fatigue
- Cough with blood or fluid
- Jaundice
The best way to prevent Cystic Hydatid Disease is to wash your hands thoroughly after picking up anything from the ground as it could be contaminated with Echinococcus eggs.
Further information
Echinococcosis
Echinococcus in Alberta
Population Management
Coyote overpopulation, as considered by some people, has arisen because the wolves that used to kill coyotes are functionally extinct in Alberta’s settled and agricultural areas. The lack of top-down predation from the wolves has caused coyote numbers in Alberta, specifically Edmonton, to be higher than ever before.
Despite ongoing attempts to remove coyotes, the species has persisted and, in some cases, thrived in response to control efforts. Traditional management methods, such as hunting and lethal trapping, that can be effective in reducing problem wildlife populations, may not be feasible in areas of dense human population and be unacceptable to some urban residents.
The following coyote population management tactics including trapping, relocating, neutering, lethal capture, shooting, denning, and poisons are a few of the methods commonly used. However, unnecessary human intervention and peaceful coexistence are strongly recommended.
The best way to ensure that coyote populations are not a problem for farmers and livestock is to have effective herd surveillance, corral at night, dispose of livestock carcass’ appropriately, guard animals, and put up fences.
Further information
Coyote predation control
Why killing coyotes doesn't work
Trapping coyotes
Despite ongoing attempts to remove coyotes, the species has persisted and, in some cases, thrived in response to control efforts. Traditional management methods, such as hunting and lethal trapping, that can be effective in reducing problem wildlife populations, may not be feasible in areas of dense human population and be unacceptable to some urban residents.
The following coyote population management tactics including trapping, relocating, neutering, lethal capture, shooting, denning, and poisons are a few of the methods commonly used. However, unnecessary human intervention and peaceful coexistence are strongly recommended.
The best way to ensure that coyote populations are not a problem for farmers and livestock is to have effective herd surveillance, corral at night, dispose of livestock carcass’ appropriately, guard animals, and put up fences.
Further information
Coyote predation control
Why killing coyotes doesn't work
Trapping coyotes
Research
Catalano, S., M. Lejeune, S. Liccioli, G. G. Verocai, K. M. Gesy, E. J. Jenkins et al. 2012. Echinococcus multilocularis in urban coyotes, Alberta, Canada. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 18(10): 1625-1628.
Conner, M. M., M. R. Ebinger, and F. F. Knowlton. 2008. Evaluating coyote management strategies using a spatially explicit, individual-based, socially structured population model. Ecol. Model. 219(1–2): 234-247.
Holzman, S., M. J. Conroy, and W. R. Davidson. 1992. Diseases, parasites and survival of coyotes in South-Central Georgia. J. Wildl. Dis. 28(4): 572-580.
Lukasik, V. M., and S. M. Alexander. 2011. Human-coyote interactions in Calgary, Alberta. Hum. Dimens. Wildl. 16(2): 114-127.
Catalano, S., M. Lejeune, S. Liccioli, G. G. Verocai, K. M. Gesy, E. J. Jenkins et al. 2012. Echinococcus multilocularis in urban coyotes, Alberta, Canada. Emerging Infectious Diseases. 18(10): 1625-1628.
Conner, M. M., M. R. Ebinger, and F. F. Knowlton. 2008. Evaluating coyote management strategies using a spatially explicit, individual-based, socially structured population model. Ecol. Model. 219(1–2): 234-247.
Holzman, S., M. J. Conroy, and W. R. Davidson. 1992. Diseases, parasites and survival of coyotes in South-Central Georgia. J. Wildl. Dis. 28(4): 572-580.
Lukasik, V. M., and S. M. Alexander. 2011. Human-coyote interactions in Calgary, Alberta. Hum. Dimens. Wildl. 16(2): 114-127.