urban coyotes city of ep

8/6/2019 Urban Coyotes City of EP

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Urban Coyotes: What are the issues?Urban Coyotes: What are the issues?

Lois A. Balin

Urban Wildlife Biologist

Texas Parks and Wildlife


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We All Make Value JudgmentsWe All Make Value Judgments

Is this Good or Bad?Is this Good or Bad?


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Why do some coyotes become

nuisance animals in urban areas?

Cities are subsidized environments for coyotes

Humans train coyotes to have behavior problems

Coyotes quickly adapt to urban/suburban living


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When managing urban coyotes, everyone has

a role to play


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TopicsTopics

What is a coyote?

What is a coyote?

What are the issues?

What are the issues?

What can we do about this?

What can we do about this?


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What is a coyote?What is a coyote?

Size of lanky German Shepherd

Pointed ears

Long tapered muzzle

Slender legs

Small feet

Yellow eyes

Uncurled bushy tai

Tail carried low

Color varies


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http://www.entm.purdue.edu/wildlife/coyote_pictures.htm

Scientific Name = Canis latrans means (barking dog)

11 different vocalizations!

Often called song dogs

Scientific Name = Canis latrans means (barking dog)

11 different vocalizations!

Often called song dogs



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http://sunsite.tus.ac.jp/multimed/pics/animals/coyote.gif

AppearanceAppearance

Male - 2.9 Feet, ~ 33 lbsMale - 2.9 Feet, ~ 33 lbs

Female- 2.6 Feet, ~ 29 lbsFemale- 2.6 Feet, ~ 29 lbs

Tail

1.29 ft


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Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 2009

A good question is where do coyotes not live?A good question is where do coyotes not live?

http://www.canids.org/SPPACCTS/coyote.htm#Distribution


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Coyote Habitat

Extremely adaptable Grasslands, prairies, open / closed forest, canyons,

arroyos, rural, suburbia, and urban areas

Dens within 6 miles of water

Extremely adaptable Grasslands, prairies, open / closed forest, canyons,

arroyos, rural, suburbia, and urban areas

Dens within 6 miles of water


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Is this good

coyotehabitat?

Is this good

coyotehabitat?


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Is this good

coyotehabitat?

Yes

Is this good

coyotehabitat?

Yes

Food Water

Shelter

Space

Plus no enemies

It contains essential habitat

components for wildlife:


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4.93 Sq.Mi.

4.93 Sq.Mi.

2.22 miles2.22 miles

Home range 5 miles2

Travel 1-4 miles/night

Most active 10 PM to 12AM


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What do

coyotes eat?

The Far Side


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EVERYTHING


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EVERYTHING


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The urban coyote: a new adaptation


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Available Food in Suburbia and Urban Areas

Pet food Unsecured garbage

Landscape fruits & seeds

Compost piles Rabbits and rodents

Cats

Small dogs


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Reproductive BiologyReproductive Biology

Breed at 1.5 years

Breed January-May

63 day gestation

1 litter/year

Litter 2-12, avg. 6

Density Dependent

Breed at 1.5 years

Breed January-May

63 day gestation

1 litter/year

Litter 2-12, avg. 6

Density Dependent


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Remember, it is allINTERCONNECTED


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TopicsTopics


What are the issues?What are the issues?

What can we do about this?What can we do about this?


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Coyote IssuesCoyote Issues Depredation damage

to livestock, crops,etc.

Disease

transmission

Hunting competition

Depredation damage

to livestock, crops,etc.

Disease

transmission

Hunting competition


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Rabies Incidents among

various mammals - 2005

Coyotes = 0


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Coyote IssuesCoyote Issues

Depredation

Disease

Hunting competition Coyotes attacking humans

Depredation

Disease

Hunting competition Coyotes attacking humans


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About 1 person/year is bitten by a coyote in CA.

1993 to 1997, 7 coyote attacks on humans inAZ.

1979 to 1999 domestic dogs killed > 300 people in USA

About 1 person/year is bitten by a coyote in CA.

1993 to 1997, 7 coyote attacks on humans inAZ.

1979 to 1999 domestic dogs killed > 300 people in USA


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Texas2 INCIDENTS

1988 - 2003, 89 incidents in southern California

Large population of coyotes, yet small numberof attacks


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Has anyone been fatally injured?Question:


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Unfortunately, yes,August, 1981 in Glendale, CA

Unattended 3 yr. old was mauled Hand-Feedingcoyotes in the area in the weeks

prior to the attack

Unfortunately, yes,August, 1981 in Glendale, CA

Unattended 3 yr. old was mauled Hand-Feedingcoyotes in the area in the weeks

prior to the attack


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Are these really coyote

problems?

Question:

Value Judgments


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TopicsTopics

What is a coyote? What is a coyote?

What are the issues? What are the issues?

What can we do about this? What can we do about this?


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Eliminate coyotes

Wildlife Services harvested

16,702coyotes in 2004

Eliminate coyotes

Wildlife Services harvested

16,702coyotes in 2004

Traditional Lethal Control

Integrated Pest Manageme

Reduce coyote damage

Aversive conditioning

Integrated Pest Manageme

Reduce coyote damage

Aversive conditioning

Non-Lethal Control


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Legally (and ecologically)

Trapped Coyote

=

Dead Coyote


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Non-lethal Methods to Reduce Coyote Damage

Use net-wire or electric fencing to keep coyotes out.

Use strobe lights and sirens to scare coyotes away.

Use guard animals, such as dogs, donkeys, and

llamas, to protect livestock.

Be PROACTIVE rather than REACTIVEBe PROACTIVE rather than REACTIVE


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The Progression of Problem Coyote

Behaviors

The 7 Warning Behaviors


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1. Increase in coyotes on streets and in yards at night

2. Increase in coyotes approaching adults and/or

taking pets at night

3. Coyotes on streets, and in parks and yards, in early

morning / late afternoon

4. Coyotes chasing or taking pets in daytime

5. Coyotes attacking and taking pets on leash or near

owners; chasing joggers, bicyclists, other adults

6. Coyotes seen in and around childrens play areas,

school grounds, and parks in mid-day

7. Coyotes acting aggressively toward adults in mid-

day


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#1 An increase in observing coyotes on

streets and in yards at night

Management Strategy: Begin detailed reporting (time, location, behavior)

Begin targeted educational efforts

Enact ordinances and enforce them

Management Strategy: Begin detailed reporting (time, location, behavior)

Begin targeted educational efforts

Enact ordinances and enforce them


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C


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Coyote responsible codes

NO INTENTIONAL FEEDING

NO FEEDING DUCKS

ENFORCE THE CODES

NO INTENTIONAL FEEDING

NO FEEDING DUCKS

ENFORCE THE CODES


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#2. Coyotes approaching adults and/or

taking pets at night

Management Strategy:

Continue detailed reporting

Begin broad educational efforts

Intensify ordinance enforcement

Initiate Passive Aversive Conditioning



Begin broad educational efforts


Initiate Passive Aversive Conditioning


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Initiate Passive Aversion Conditioning

Get loud- Yell, shout, air horns, clap hands

Get big Raise arms and wave them about whilemaking a sudden move toward the animal.

Do not run away Acting fearful trains them tobelieve that were of no threat to them.

Chase them away Throw rocks/sticks at them


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#3. Early morning and late afternoon observance of

coyotes on streets, in parks, or yards

#3. Early morning and late afternoon observance of

coyotes on streets, in parks, or yards

Management Strategy: Continue detailed reporting

Continue intense educational efforts


Begin Active Aversive Conditioning

Management Strategy: Continue detailed reporting





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Throw something (rock/stick)

Spray water

Aggressive

Be Persistent

No Pain, No Gain


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Continue intense educational efforts Continue intense ordinance enforcement

Begin Aggressive Aversive Conditioning



Continue intense educational efforts Continue intense ordinance enforcement


#4. Daylight observance of coyotes chasing

or taking pets

#4. Daylight observance of coyotes chasing

or taking pets


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Paintball guns Pepper spray

Less-than-lethal rounds

# A ki / ki i l i i


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#5. Attacking/taking pets in close proximity

to their owners, chasing joggers, bicyclists,

and adults




Continue intense ordinance enforcement

Continue intense aversive conditioning

Consider targeted lethal removal






Consider targeted lethal removal


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#6. Seen at mid-day around childrens play

area, school grounds, or parks.




Continue intense ordinance enforcement Continue intense aversive conditioning

Individual lethal removal




Continue intense ordinance enforcement Continue intense aversive conditioning

Individual lethal removal


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#7. Coyotes acting aggressively

towards adults in mid-day.


Continue detailed reporting Continue intense educational efforts



Lethal removal of several individuals


Continue detailed reporting Continue intense educational efforts



Lethal removal of several individuals


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Tips to Prevent Nuisance Urban Coyotes

and to Reduce Coyote-Human Conflict

Never feed coyotes!

Eliminate sources of water

Careful with bird feeders

Do not discard edible garbage Secure garbage containers

Feed pets indoors

Dont leave small children unattended outside

Dont allow pets to run free.

U b C t Wh t th i ?U b C t Wh t th i ?


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When managing urban coyotes, everyone

has a role to play

Urban Coyotes: What are the issues?Urban Coyotes: What are the issues?


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Thanks

Lois Balin, Texas Parks and Wildlife

915-774-9603

L i b li @t d t t t

urban coyotes city of ep

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