How To Get Rid Of Coyotes

Seeing a coyote in your yard can be a startling experience. If you’re wondering how to get rid of coyotes, you’re not alone. These adaptable animals are increasingly common in both rural and suburban areas. They can pose a threat to pets, livestock, and sometimes even cause property damage. The good news is there are many effective and humane ways to encourage them to move along.

This guide will walk you through proven methods. We’ll focus on strategies that are safe for you, your neighbors, and the coyotes themselves. Removing them doesn’t have to mean harming them. It’s about making your property less attractive and more intimidating to these clever canines.

Successfully managing coyotes involves a multi-step approach. It combines immediate actions with long-term habitat modification. The goal is to create an environment where coyotes feel unwelcome and unsafe. Persistence is key, as these are intelligent animals that will test your resolve.

Understanding Coyote Behavior

Before you take action, it helps to know what your dealing with. Coyotes are highly intelligent and opportunistic. They are primarily nocturnal but can be seen during the day, especially when raising pups. They are attracted to easy food sources, water, and safe shelter.

Knowing this helps you target your efforts. You’re not just scaring one animal away. You are systematically removing the reasons it chose your property in the first place. This is the foundation of humane and lasting control.

What Attracts Coyotes to Your Property?

Pet Food and Water: Bowls left outside, especially overnight, are a major attractant.
Unsecured Garbage: Easily tipped bins or loose trash bags provide a feast.
Fallen Fruit and Birdseed: Rodents come for these, and coyotes come for the rodents.
Compost Piles: If not properly managed, compost can smell like food.
Small Pets and Livestock: Free-roaming cats, small dogs, chickens, and rabbits are seen as prey.
Dense Cover: Overgrown bushes, brush piles, and spaces under decks offer perfect denning sites.

Immediate Action: Hazing Techniques

Hazing is the use of deterrents to move an animal out of an area. It reinforces their natural fear of humans. It’s most effective when done consistently by multiple people in a neighborhood. The moment you see a coyote, it’s time to act.

Effective Hazing Methods

Be Big and Loud: Stand tall, wave your arms, and shout in a firm, authoritative voice. Use phrases like “Go away coyote!”
Noisemakers: Keep a whistle, air horn, or a can filled with coins handy. Bang pots and pans together.
Projectiles: Throw small stones, tennis balls, or sticks in the coyote’s direction (not directly at it to avoid injury).
Water Spray: A strong jet of water from a hose or a super soaker can be very effective.
Motion-Activated Devices: Sprinklers, lights, or noisemakers that startle the coyote when it approaches.

Remember, the coyote must associate the unpleasant experience with you and your property. It should learn that humans mean trouble. Consistency from everyone in the area is crucial for hazing to work long-term.

Long-Term Habitat Modification

This is the most critical step for permanent results. If you remove the food, water, and shelter, the coyotes will have no reason to stay. It requires ongoing maintenance but pays off greatly.

Securing Food Sources

Feed pets indoors. If you must feed outside, remove bowls immediately after eating.
Use wildlife-proof garbage cans with locking lids. Put bins out the morning of pickup, not the night before.
Clean up fallen fruit, nuts, and berries regularly.
Use bird feeders that catch seed droppings, or stop feeding birds temporarily if coyotes are a constant problem.
Manage compost properly. Never add meat, dairy, or oily foods. Use a closed bin.

Removing Shelter and Denning Sites

Coyotes look for quiet, hidden spots to rest and raise young. By clearing these, you take away their safe haven.

Clear away thick brush and weed patches.
Trim tree limbs that hang low to the ground.
Seal off openings under sheds, decks, and porches with sturdy wire mesh dug into the ground.
Remove rock piles, woodpiles, and old equipment that creates hiding spots.

Physical Barriers and Fencing

A good fence is a powerful deterrent. It won’t work if other attractants are present, but it adds a critical layer of protection for pets and livestock.

Choosing the Right Fence

Coyotes are excellent diggers and can jump high. A standard 4-foot chain-link fence won’t stop them.

Height: Fences should be at least 6 feet tall.
Material: Solid wood or vinyl privacy fences are good as they block the coyote’s view and desire to enter.
Preventing Digging: Extend the fence material at least 12 inches underground, or bend the bottom outward into an “L” shape buried 6 inches down.
Topping: Adding a roller bar or outward-angled extension at the top can prevent climbing and jumping.

For smaller areas like chicken coops or pet runs, use fully enclosed hardware cloth instead of chicken wire, which coyotes can break through.

Using Repellents Effectively

Repellents can be a useful tool in your arsenal. They work by smell or taste to create an unpleasant environment. It’s important to manage your expectations, as their effectiveness can vary and they require regular reapplication.

Types of Repellents

Granular or Liquid Repellents: These often use smells like wolf urine, ammonia, or garlic. Apply around the perimeter of your property, especially near potential entry points.
Motion-Activated Sprinklers: Devices like the “ScareCrow” spray a sudden burst of water when they detect motion. This is a highly effective form of hazing that works even when your not there.
Light Repellents: Strobe lights or blinking lights can deter nocturnal animals. They can be set on a timer or motion-activated.

Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully. Reapply after heavy rain or every few weeks for the best results. Remember, repellents work best as part of a broader strategy.

Protecting Your Pets and Livestock

This is often a primary concern for homeowners. Coyotes see small, unattended pets as prey. Livestock like chickens, goats, and sheep are also vulnerable.

Pet Safety Guidelines

Keep cats indoors and small dogs on a short leash during walks.
Do not let pets out alone at dawn, dusk, or night, which are peak coyote activity times.
Accompany pets into the yard, especially at night. Make your presence known.
Install outdoor lighting to illuminate yards and walkways.

Livestock Protection

For larger animals, more robust measures are needed.

Use guardian animals like dogs, llamas, or donkeys that are specifically trained to protect livestock.
Bring poultry into a secure coop every single night without fail.
For sheep or goats, consider a properly installed electric fence.
Keep livestock enclosures close to your home, as coyotes are less likely to approach human activity.

When to Call a Professional

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, a coyote may become a persistent problem. It may show no fear of humans, a sign of habituation. In these cases, professional help is warranted.

Signs You Need Expert Help

A coyote that approaches people or pets closely during the day.
Multiple sightings in a densely populated area over a short time.
Evidence of coyotes denning on your property that you cannot safely disrupt.
If you have tried hazing and habitat modification for several weeks with no improvement.

Contact your local animal control agency, wildlife department, or a licensed wildlife removal professional. They have the tools and legal authority to assess the situation and take appropriate action, which may include live trapping and relocation (where permitted) or other management strategies. Never attempt to trap a coyote yourself, as it is dangerous and often illegal without a permit.

Community-Wide Cooperation

Coyotes don’t respect property lines. Your efforts will be much more effective if your neighbors are on board. A community approach ensures the animals don’t just move from your yard to the one next door.

Talk to your neighbors about securing trash and removing attractants. Share information about hazing techniques. Consider forming a neighborhood watch group focused on wildlife. A unified community is the strongest defense against coyote problems.

Living with Coyotes: A Balanced Perspective

Complete eradication of coyotes is neither possible nor ecologically desirable. They play a vital role in controlling rodent and rabbit populations. The goal is coexistence, not annihilation.

By making your property inhospitable, you encourage coyotes to stick to their natural wild spaces. You teach them to maintain a healthy fear of people. This protects them as much as it protects you and your pets. It’s about finding a balance that keeps everyone safer.

FAQ Section

What is the fastest way to scare a coyote away?

The fastest method is aggressive hazing. Be big, be loud, and throw something in its direction. Use an air horn or whistle. The key is to make the experience memorable so it doesn’t come back.

What smells do coyotes hate?

Coyotes have sensitive noses and dislike strong odors. Common repellents use smells like wolf urine, white vinegar, ammonia-soaked rags, and commercial granular repellents with pungent oils. These need frequent reapplication, especially after rain.

Will lights keep coyotes away?

Lights can help, especially motion-activated ones. Sudden illumination can startle them. However, lights alone are not a complete solution. Coyotes can become accustomed to them if there’s still food available. Use lights in combination with other methods.

Are coyotes afraid of dogs?

It depends on the size of the dog. Coyotes may see small dogs as prey. Larger dogs can be a deterrent, but confrontations can lead to injury for both animals. Never let your dog chase or “play” with a coyote. Always keep dogs leashed and supervised.

What should I do if a coyote approaches me?

Do not run. Stand your ground, make yourself look large, and maintain eye contact. Shout loudly and aggressively. Back away slowly while facing the coyote. If it continues to approach, throw sticks or stones near it. Your goal is to convince it that you are a threat.

Can I shoot a coyote on my property?

Laws regarding shooting coyotes vary widely by state, county, and city. It is often heavily regulated, even in rural areas. Discharging a firearm in suburban or urban locations is almost always illegal and extremely dangerous. Always check with your local police department and wildlife agency before considering lethal control. Humane harassment and exclusion are legal everywhere and are usally the recommended first steps.