If you live in North America, you’ve most likely at least heard of the problem with coyotes moving into suburban/city locations and disrupting wildlife. Coyotes tear apart trash and compost and kill household pets left outside, typically cats and small dogs. These canines have been documented recently to be growing faster and stronger. The once only small sized coyote is now more comparable to the size of a wolf or large dog. Attacks on humans are very rare, but have been documented— a notable one being a toddler that was dragged away from a driveway in broad daylight in California.

Coyotes, a once more naturally-occurring “come and go” animal, have now turned into a rampant man-made problem. Coyotes have always been an issue for man dating back to the 16th century, but the problem is more widespread than ever in places that are supposed to be considered suburban or city areas. As wildlife is destructed and torn away to make room for new man-made buildings and subdivisions, coyotes move onto other areas— ones that tend to be closer to humans as their food options are growing scarce with the destruction of their homes. As they continue to multiply in number, more and more encounters between humans, coyotes, and pets become common each year. The book “Coyote America” documents this well: many people consider it normal to look a coyote in the eye during broad daylight, and do nothing to haze or relocate them.

A major issue with solving the problem of coyotes is a controversial one. Many people believe that attempting to trap and relocate them is futile and that we need to actively hunt and shoot them on sight, but others counter-argue that because the overpopulation of coyotes is largely a man made problem that we should take the accountability into our own hands of doing the work of relocating coyotes humanely.

Coyotes have become an issue in my own neighborhood. As you should know by now, I own a feral cat community. Every day I engage in set feeding times for the cats and sanitize the plate and entire patio where they feed. Leaving out cat food is a huge attractant to coyotes, so the plate is taken up 30 minutes before dark and I throw cleaner over the area to disguise scent. The problem I have encountered numerous times is that many compost piles from the houses beside me and restaurant trash piles down the road are left uncovered, attracting coyotes anyway.

Just last night I noticed my floodlight going on and off repeatedly, and I saw a possum bothering two of my cats. The cats chased the possum off, which began eating out of the neighbor’s compost as it had nothing from my house to eat. Just two minutes later, quick as lightning, a coyote ran into my yard. Both of the cats fluffed up and had no place to hide as it began to sniff around the area where the possum had been, just a few feet away from the cats, sitting out in the open. Immediately, I hazed the coyote just as it made eye contact with my cats and it disappeared as fast as it arrived. Unfortunately, years ago, I was not there to haze it when it took the life of my own pet, which is why I have never allowed my new cat to go outside. (Hazing an animal is deterring it from returning— making loud noises, banging on the window, screaming, stomping your feet, etc. This should be done any time you encounter an animal that does not need to be close to your property.)

I have a pal who is well versed on coyotes, far more than I ever will be, who shoots about ten a day off our interstate, where they travel into his yard. He has done extensive research on them and wholeheartedly believes that every coyote should be shot upon sight as relocation and rehabilitation is apparently futile. This is a subject I am torn on, as I am a lover of the natural world. I hate to kill any animal, but I do admit that this is a man-made problem. We have a wildlife rehab center close to us, and they will accept two coyotes a week from each person who can trap them. Obviously, that barely makes a dent in the issue of overpopulation, but it does save the life of an animal that didn’t choose to have it’s home taken away.

My questions for you all (you may pick one to answer or however many you like):

When it comes to dealing with coyotes and actively working against overpopulation, should we take responsibility and do our best to humanely trap and relocate them, or is there no hope?

Should we shoot upon sight?

What can we do going forward to fix the mess we have created?

Would you or have you personally encountered a coyote?

Would you or have you personally attempted to relocate or shoot a coyote?

What are your feelings on them?