Anonymous (67.170.81.x) 28 Nov 2007 23:34
Hi all, First let me give my condolences to any who have lost a beloved pet to the pack of coyotes in our area from Seward Park west to Columbia City & other surrounding communities. The coyotes are becoming bolder & bolder, venturing farther & farther into the city away from the lake & park, seen as far as 39th Ave. & Hudson where I spotted one last week — we lived in Arizona so I know what they loodefinately was definately not a dog. Will they become bold enough to attack a child is my concern. The person I spoke to at PAWS Wildlife claimed they will not attack humans but I really wonder if they are hungry & desperate enough as the obviously starving animal I saw is, if they would start attacking humans. They probably would/could attack an unattended child or one even in their own backyard with an adult nearby. I called Paws Wildlife Departemt & was told that it is il legal for them to come out to set out humane cages to trap the coyotes & relocate them, they are trying to get that law changed, I will find out more about that law so those of us who are so inclined can contact our congressmen, mayor, city council, etc. about pushing this specific bill through in a timely manner. I need to research exactly the name & number of the bill & what needs to be done to get it passed or to get to the point to be voted on. Meanwhile, here are suggestions from PAWS Wildlife department:
DO NOT leave pets or children alone outside, stay with them when your dog needs to go outside to go potty, do not allow your cats outdoors, if you do, put a LARGE bell on them, sometimes the sound will scare a coyote away, but most ignore it if they are desperately hungry, best not to leave your cats or small dogs outdoors period. There is some type of device I will research specifically created to scare coyotes off, don't know what bells & whistles are on it or the cost of it. Motion detectors around a house with bright lights might help but loud sounds mainly scare them away, even a recording of a large breed barking dog, human shouting, snarling cougers or any large predator cat, growling bears, loud whistles, etc. The same devices that some trainers/hunters use that hurt dogs ears from high pitched sounds that we humans cannot hear will also be affective with coyotes, it would somehow have to& nbsp;also be linked up like a motion sensor setup in several places around your property, that would go off if they came near or onto your property. I was warned that coyotes are very good climbers so even high fences, etc. do not keep them out of your back yard. Simple devices such as setting up old pots, pans, metal anything , even strips of heavy aluminum foil, etc. anything that would make loud noises set up hanging near ground level in a "trip wire" fashion around your property would also work. If you can get a hold of bear, cougar, etc. urine (mmm, how to do this? but must be places that sell it) urine from an animal a coyote would consider a predator, make a perimeter of this around your property, they will smell it & stay away from that area, I don't know what is out there online or like at G.I. Joe's or some other kind of sportsman/hunting store that might have similar scent products on the market to s pray or pour — also always carry pepper spray or one of those dog dog whistles that only dogs can hear (coyotes will hear them also & it hurts their ears) when outside, if a coyote does come near you or you & your pet, point the pepper sprayer at them (make sure it is upwind as it will blow right back into your own face) & give them a good, heavy spray, hopefully in the face; get the better brands as you have better control of aim & is a better pepper spray product or blow the whistle until they run off. Carry a shovel, rake, anything, even a long, sturdy branch, etc. & brandish it at the coyote or bang it on something to make a loud noise because they will shy away from it & scare them off. Use Barbed wire if you can, on the ground around property & top of fences, or piled up thorny branches work as well, also around base of trees they could use to climb over fences to get into your yard, or base of stairs to decks or porches, use Christmas lights (the larger & brighter, the better) around perimeter of property, especially the ones that blink intermittently, not the predictable ones that blink on & off in a regular pattern/you want the irregular blinking for their unpredictability. DO NOT ALLOW children to walk alone like to school or to a neighbor's house, etc., especially after dark but even during the daylight hours — supply them with one of those special dog whistles with the high pitch they can wear around their neck, talk to them about never approaching a loose dog or coyote, children usually would not be able to differentiate between the two species — nor run away as the coyote will chase them & track them like prey, the same with adults. Either stand still & use something to scare them off like the whistle or pepper spray or a "walking stick" for children & adults, or walk backwards away from t hem (don't turn your back on them until you are a far enough distance to get away as fast as you can) in as calm a manner as possible, even go to the first house near you to knock on the door to try & let someone know a coyote is loose & you need to get inside for awhile until the animal leaves the area. Also, an ADULT should never approach a coyote without something to defend themselves, coyotes scare away easily but can also be vicious fighters, a large implement such as a stick, etc. to shake at them or bang hard on the ground or tree or anything solid to make a loud, threatening noise or one of the whistles mentioned or pepper spray is the best way to try & scare them away
Lastly, here is an all natural "Dog Be Gone Tonic" From Jerry Baker's book, "Backyard Problem Solver"
but with our rain, you will need to do sprinkle it around the parimeter on a regular basis as it does wash away: 2 Cloves of garlic, 2 small onions, 1 jalapeno pepper (raw) 1 tbsp. of cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp. of chili powder, 1 tbsp. of Tabasco sauce, 1 tbsp. of liquid dish soap, 1 quart or 2 quarts of warm water or however much you want, just increase the ingredients for each quart. Chop the garlic, onions & pepper fine, & then combine with the rest of the ingredients. Let the mixture sit and "marinate" for 24 hrs, strain it through cheesecloth or old panty hose, then sprinkle it on any areas where the dogs (coyotes in this case) are a problem. Good luck, keep your pets, children & yourself safe!
Source: Yahoo Answers website
How do you get rid of/scare coyotes away?
Chosen by Asker
The best way is to take preventative steps. If you have dogs, cats or any pet that stays outside at night, have them in a tall fence. If coyotes are hungry enough, they can jump an 8 ft fence. Pick up any food that may be left outside (like pet food, and don't put food that may be in your garbage out before the trash is picked up). If a pet (dog) is left outside and is in heat during mating season which is around February - March they will breed with it. The female dog will then run away and have the puppies which are called Coys. These are more dangerous as they have the ability to be wild like Coyotes and aren't scared of people, and will even attempt to take small children not just animals if they are hungry enough. Coyotes travel the most between dusk and dawn and sleep during the day. But they can come out during that time.
Source(s):
I know this is lengthy, but I can't stress the importance enough to protect your pets if you have a coyote problem. They are vicious and I have learned first hand what they do because they killed one of my rat terriers in the early summer this year. Because we are on private property and have livestock, they are a nuisance in which we can kill them for this reason. My husband has been busy researching all this because we have such a problem, and don't want to lose anymore animals. (They don't however bother pitbulls, rottweilers but will try to breed with german shepherds.) They will even kill a dog that is chained up. So please protect your pets. Also, alot of farmers around here get donkeys (female) to put in their pastures because they will definitely attack a coyote
More Online Info from the Missouri Conservaton of Wildlife
Fishing
Hunting & Trapping
Forestry
Nature
Private Land
Education
Missouri's Coyotes
Damage Prevention and Control
Coyotes have been the focus of predator-control efforts for years in the western part of the United States where sheep production is big business. In these areas, poisons, traps, snares, airplane hunting, dogs and other methods have been used to control or eradicate coyote populations. For the most part, coyote numbers have remained relatively stable despite these extensive control efforts.
In Missouri, the situation is much simpler because sheep and cattle pastures and hog lots are usually small - between 40 and 80 acres - and are often well fenced. Many times only one or a few coyotes need to be dealt with to stop livestock loss.
When coyotes are causing damage, people want the problem corrected but don't always want the coyote killed. "Can't you just catch the coyotes and move them someplace else?" is a question sometimes posed to wildlife damage biologists. And the answer is, "No." Except on rare occasions, coyotes are too cunning to be caught in cage traps. There are, however, many nonlethal options available to cope with coyote problems. In some situations, the only option may be to use a lethal method.
The Missouri Department of Conservation's wildlife damage biologists can help decide what will work best in a particular situation. They provide technical advice in preventing problems. If lethal methods are needed, they can show how to use snares and traps and how to call and shoot problem coyotes. They also can sell traps or snares to landowners at cost.
The best way to prevent coyote damage is to take preventative measures. Using guard dogs is one way to stop coyotes from killing sheep.
Nonlethal methods
When a coyote is suspected of killing livestock, the first impulse of many farmers is to kill the coyote. Although lethal methods of controlling coyotes may be the best short-term solution, the livestock producer should consider the following nonlethal methods that offer long-term protection.
Guard animals
A popular, nonlethal method of preventing coyote damage to livestock is to use guard animals. Specially trained guard dogs, donkeys and llamas have been used through-out Missouri to protect livestock.
Dogs
A good guard dog can protect sheep and goats from coyote damage. Larger breeds, such as Great Pyrenees, Komondor, Anatolian shepherds and Akbash, often work well to intimidate the much smaller coyote.
Guard dogs should be acquired as puppies and habituated to the flock or herd at an early age. Human contact must be kept to a minimum. If the guard dog is treated as a pet, it will not properly bond with livestock and its effectiveness will be lost. On the other hand, the guard dog needs to be tame enough that the owner can approach it for vaccinations, worming and other care.
Dogs have individual personalities: One dog may bond with the sheep or goats while another dog may not work as well. A good guard dog remains with the livestock at all times and confronts coyotes and other dogs that approach.
Guard dogs require a lot of initial training and must be provided with shelter and food in the field. They may be excellent guard animals for a while and become less effective later. Occasionally guard dogs have been responsible for killing sheep.
Donkeys
Donkeys are used by Missouri livestock producers to guard sheep and goats. Hog producers have found that donkeys also give some protection to sows farrowing in the woods.
Most donkeys have a natural dislike for coyotes and dogs and bond well with livestock. Select a gelding or jenny because the more aggressive jacks sometimes injure or kill sheep and goats. Do not place two donkeys in the same pasture or in adjoining pastures because they will bond with each other and not with the livestock.
An effective guard donkey remains with the sheep or goats at all times. Advantages of donkeys are that they are not high priced and do not require as much training and care as guard dogs.
As with the guard dogs, there are no guarantees that a donkey will be 100-percent effective. It may be necessary to try more than one donkey to find one that functions as a good guard animal. One method of selecting a donkey is to put it in a small lot or corral with a strange dog, making sure the dog has plenty of escape routes. A donkey that reacts aggressively to the dog has a good chance of being an effective guard animal.
Llamas
A few progressive livestock producers in Missouri use llamas as guard animals. Studies in Iowa have shown these animals to be quite effective in protecting sheep, goats and cattle. Aggressive toward both dogs and coyotes, llamas are easy to handle and bond with livestock in a matter of days.
Although expensive initially, their longevity of 12 to 18 years and their usefulness as guard animals make the price reasonable over time. Llamas require little attention because they feed with the animals they are protecting.
For tips on selecting and training guard animals, write for the free booklet, "Using Guard Animals to Protect Livestock." Send your request to Guard Animals, Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo. 65102-0180.
Fencing
A well-built net or woven-wire fence can be 100-percent effective protecting pigs, poultry and sheep from coyotes. The fence should be at least 7 feet high to keep coyotes from jumping over it.
An outward slant to the wire at the top can be added to keep coyotes from climbing over, and an apron of wire extending outward from the bottom will keep them from digging under the fence. If the apron isn't used, a few well-placed snares or traps should catch the occasional coyote that digs under the fence.
A shorter, woven-wire fence can be made taller by attaching extensions to the posts and adding extra wire.
A high-tensile electric fence can serve as both a livestock and predator-proof fence if it is built to the right specifications. Contact a fencing company for specific details.
Initial costs for this type of fence are comparable to or even lower than a woven-wire fence with barbed wire at the top. Beginning with a hot wire at the bottom, the fence should have at least 7 strands of alternating hot and ground high-tensile wire. Be sure the wires are stretched tight.
The fence must be maintained to ensure there are no washouts that will allow coyotes to crawl under without getting shocked.
Installing a single electric wire near the bottom of the fence to keep coyotes from digging or crawling under the woven wire is a waste of time and money. A high-tensile predator-proof fence built to specifications is the best option. Fences can be cost effective for small enclosures but may prove expensive for large pastures. In the case of high-dollar exotic animals, a high fence or high-tensile electric fence should be considered. Losing a few expensive animals could quickly justify the expense of a predator-proof fence.
Fences designed and built to exclude dogs and coyotes can be virtually 100-percent effective. A predator-proof woven-wire fence should be at least 7 feet tall to keep coyotes from jumping over it and close enough to the ground to stop them from crawling under it.
A high-tensile fence doesn't need to be as high as a woven-wire fence because a coyote's first instinct will be to pass through the wires instead of jumping over it. This fence must be built to specifications to work properly. Check with a fencing company for specific details.
Scare cannons
Scare cannons or propane exploders, which are timed to give off a loud boom every 15 to 20 minutes, are not usually effective in controlling coyote damage.
Propane cannons cost around $350 each, require maintenance, often do not work during rainy periods and may disturb neighbors. Coyotes soon learn that the cannons are not a threat and have been known to come in between working propane exploders to kill livestock.
Electronic Guard
The Electronic Guard is a device developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal Damage Control program as a temporary way to protect livestock from coyotes. The battery-powered guard turns on only at night, the time when coyotes usually kill livestock. Approximately every 15 minutes, a strobe light and siren turn on to scare coyotes away from the area.
This method isn't a permanent solution. Coyotes eventually learn that the guard doesn't pose a real threat, and they may ignore it after a few weeks.
Electronic Guards cost about $250 each. If a pasture is 10 to 20 acres with a lot of cover, two or three guards should be used. From time to time, they should be moved from one position to another.
