Coyotes can be fairly common in urban areas. They usually are of no danger to humans, as they would rather not interact with people. But, depending on where you live and the type of animals you may keep on your property, they can become a nuisance that you would rather be rid of.

Killing Coyotes
The first thought that may come to mind when confronted with a coyote that is raiding your chicken coop, flock of sheep, or one that appears sickly or rabid is to shoot it. You may want to check into your local laws before doing so, however. According to one website, there are five states who currently will pay a bounty for coyotes. They are South Dakota, Colorado, Virginia, Utah, and Texas. You should try lesser aggressive methods, though, before resorting to killing the offender.

Poisoning is another method for killing coyotes. The issue with poison is that one of your pets, or even a child, could accidentally be poisoned rather than your intended target. So it's best to not resort to this method either.

Fencing
The best place to start is to try to make your property as coyote-proof as possible. At least make your animal pens as secure as you can. This means making a tight chicken coop that has a well-fenced yard for them to run in, yet be safe from predators. Make sure that your fencing is such that a coyote can't dig a hole under it and crawl inside.

Protecting your flock of sheep may be a little more difficult unless you have just a few in a small enclosure. But large flocks of sheep that are kept in acres and acres of pasture are more susceptible to coyote attacks. Here is where several well-trained sheep dogs could come in handy, as well as sheepherder who is on duty daily.

Electric fencing is an option to consider if it is appropriate for your property and needs. Electric fencing comes with a variety of numbers of strands. Choose one with 13 strands to effectively keep coyotes out of your sheep pasture.

Since coyotes often hunt at night, herding your sheep into a sturdy corral in the evening will also help to protect them. Place motion-detecting lights around the outside of the fence for even greater protection. Chickens should likewise have a protected coop to roost in at night.

Don't Tempt A Coyote
Keep your property as free from temptation as you can. Feed your dog or cat indoors, or at least in a protected outside area. Use a trash can that has a secure lid. If you have a compost pile, consider building a frame around it, so coyotes aren't attracted to the food scraps you throw out on it.

Keep fallen fruit off the ground as coyotes like to eat fruit. They even like dates, so if you live where you have a date palm in your yard, they will enjoy the fallen dates. Fence in your garden area too.

Maintain your yard and property in a clean, orderly fashion. Keep your grass cut and remove any brush or undergrowth if you have property that is heavily wooded. If the coyote has no place to hide or feel safe, and no food source, it will move on to a more suitable place.

Traps And Other Deterrents
There is a device available that operates on propane and emits exploding sounds at timed intervals. The propane is ignited by a spark, causing a controlled explosion. It can be set to explode at various intervals from one to fifteen minutes. The unexpected noise frightens the coyote away.

An electronic guard emits a loud siren sound and a light flashes when its motion sensor is tripped. Both the loud sound and the bright lights will scare off a coyote. A coyote will usually not return to a spot where it has been frightened once.

If you choose to try to trap a coyote, use a live trap. The traps that one usually thinks of in reference to old-time trappers that have steel teeth that spring shut on an animal's leg are cruel and should never be used. Imagine how it would feel to have your leg or arm caught in one of these! Animals have been known to gnaw off a leg that was caught in a trap. So always use only a live trap if you must resort to trapping at all.

Place the trap where you see coyote tracks, bait it will some meat, fruit, or other coyote delicacy, and then check it daily. Don't let a coyote starve to death in your trap because you set it and then forgot all about it. Have a plan as to where to take the coyote for relocation after it is caught.

Read the Pest Wildlife Home Page page for helpful information and to learn more about How To Get Rid Of Coyotes