Coyote Sightings

According to Security, there have only been a half dozen reported coyote sightings in the last two months here, but Leisure World residents are encouraged to stay vigilant in protecting their small pets.

Coyotes are generally reclusive but those who have adapted to urban environments are often accustomed to people and don’t feel threatened.

They hang around because of an abundance of food and have been known to carry off unleashed dogs and cats. Bold coyotes should not be tolerated or enticed but instead given the clear message that they are not welcome, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

Hazing

Hazing is a method that makes use of deterrents to move an animal out of an area or discourage an undesirable behavior or activity. Hazing can help maintain a coyote’s fear of humans and deter them from backyards and play spaces.

Methods of Hazing

• Using a variety of different hazing tools is critical so that coyotes don’t get used to redundant or single stimulus devices, sounds and actions.

• Yelling and waving your arms while approaching the coyote

• Using noisemakers including voice, whistles, air horns, bells, “shaker” cans full of marbles or pennies, pots, lid or pie pans banged together

• Using projectiles such as sticks, small rocks, cans, tennis balls or rubber balls The simplest method of hazing a coyote involves being loud and large:

• Stand tall, wave your arms and yell at the coyote, approaching them if necessary until they run away as demonstrated in this coyote hazing video. • If a coyote has not been hazed before, they may not immediately run away when you yell at them. If this happens, you may need to walk toward the coyote and increase the intensity of your hazing.

• The coyote may run away, but then stop after a distance and look at you. It is important to continue hazing the coyote until it leaves the area. People may need to use different tactics, such as noisemakers, stomping your feet or spraying the coyote with a hose to get them to leave.

Dog-Walking Tools There are several tools that you can carry with you while walking your dog that can be used to repel coyotes. These include:

• Homemade noisemakers.

• Whistle or small air horn (there are small air horn necklaces people can purchase).

• Squirt guns.

• Sticks or other objects to throw toward (but not at) the coyote After someone has successfully hazed a coyote, it may return. Continue to haze them; it usually takes only one or two times to haze away a coyote for good.

—from the U.S. Humane Society