Coyote

About Coyotes

Coyotes have been in the City of Hudson and the State of Ohio for many years and have rarely caused harm. Coyotes are more visible in the spring and fall, and appear more often at dawn and at dusk. They are generally shy and cautious and pose little danger for humans. They are unlikely to attack unless provoked, or while protecting their den or cubs. There have been very few incidents involving aggressive coyotes in Hudson. The potential for coyote attacks increase in the April- May timeframe, when adult coyotes are protecting their young.

The coyote’s normal diet is rodents, rabbits and carrion/deer, although in urban environments, they may prey on small pets. The risk to small pets increases during the winter months, particularly in a bad winter where natural food sources are scarce. 

If you know that coyotes are in the area, it is best to keep your small pets inside at night when coyotes are most active. Coyotes live in a social unit made up of an adult pair and their young. They do not form packs beyond this social unit.
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While the coyote population is increasing, it is at a slow rate, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Rabies or other diseases are uncommon in coyotes in Ohio. Because the County does raccoon baiting with a rabies vaccine, it has helped minimize the rabies problem in the coyote population, since they will also eat the bait.

What to Do if a Coyote is in Your Backyard

  1. Understand that coyotes are common throughout Ohio's 88 counties in both rural and urban settings. There are no wild wolves living in Ohio.
  2. Identify that the canine is truly a coyote and not a stray dog. If you determine the animal is a stray dog, contact your county dog warden.
  3. If you do have a coyote on your property, remove all "attractants" (see full Discouraging Coyotes list below) to possibly deter the coyote from returning. This includes removing garbage and pet food before nightfall and cleaning up around the grill. Coyotes prey primarily on small mammals, such as rabbits and mice. Small pets may also be taken. Keep small dogs and cats inside. Coyotes are curious, but generally fearful of humans. Clap your hands and shout in a stern voice to scare off coyotes that are investigating your yard.
  4. If the coyote visiting your yard seems to lack a fear of humans or is presenting a conflict even after removing attractants from your yard, contact a nuisance trapper. You can locate a trapper near you by calling the Division of Wildlife at 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543). Coyotes in rural areas can be controlled through legal hunting and trapping methods. Consult the yearly Ohio Hunting and Trapping Regulations booklet for more information

Discouraging Coyotes

There are a number of things homeowners can do to discourage coyotes from visiting their property:
  • Never feed or attempt to tame a coyote. These attempts only serve to make the coyote more habituated to the presence of humans and less fearful.
  • Discourage coyotes by removing all foods sources that would attract the animal to your yard. Never leave pet food, water, food containers, or garbage outside, and clean up around backyard grills. Don’t put garbage out until the morning of your scheduled pickup.
  • Keep bird feeders from overflowing and fence in vegetable gardens. Pick up fruits or berries that fall from trees in your yard.
  • Close off crawl spaces under porches, decks and sheds.
  • Install outdoor lighting triggered by motion detectors. Loud noises also scare away coyotes.
  • Clear bushes and dense weeds where coyotes may find cover or decide to create a den.
  • Keep small dogs and cats inside or in a completely fenced in area, particular at night when they are most active. Walk your dog on a leash and do not leave your dog unsupervised.
  • Trim and clear away ground level shrubbery or brush that provides cover for coyotes.

Resources 

Visit the following resources and links for more information or to talk to a wildlife expert.

Further Reading