Coyotes are adaptable animals increasingly present in residential areas, leading to concerns among homeowners about property and pet safety. Their presence often prompts questions about how well common barriers, such as fences, can deter them. Understanding coyote behavior is important for effective coexistence and protection.
Coyote Jumping Capabilities
Coyotes possess remarkable agility and can clear considerable heights. While they can jump 4 to 5 feet from a stationary position, their ability to scale fences is more complex. Coyotes can often clear a 6-foot fence, and some reports indicate they can jump fences up to 8 feet high. This impressive vertical leap involves a two-phase process where they jump, grab the top of the fence with their front paws, and then use their hind legs to push themselves up and over.
The effectiveness of a 6-foot fence as a barrier depends on various factors, including the coyote’s motivation, physical condition, and the fence’s construction. A motivated coyote, driven by hunger or the presence of prey, is more likely to attempt to breach a fence. The presence of footholds, such as mesh or horizontal supports, or objects near the fence like sheds or trash bins, can provide leverage, allowing coyotes to scale even taller barriers, potentially up to 14 feet.
Beyond Jumping: Other Fence Breaching Methods
Coyotes employ strategies beyond jumping to bypass fences, demonstrating their resourcefulness. Digging is a common method, as these animals possess strong paws and persistence. They can excavate beneath fences, creating tunnels to access desired areas, digging down 12 to 18 inches when motivated. This makes traditional fencing less effective if the barrier does not extend sufficiently underground.
Climbing is another tactic, especially with certain fence types. Coyotes can scale chain-link fences by latching onto the mesh with their paws and pulling themselves over. Even solid fences are not entirely immune, as coyotes can exploit slight imperfections or use nearby objects for leverage to climb.
Enhancing Fence Security
To improve fence security against coyotes, several modifications can be implemented. Adding coyote rollers to the top of a fence can be effective. These devices are long, rotating tubes that spin freely, preventing coyotes from gaining the necessary grip to pull themselves over the top. Such rollers can be installed on various fence types, including wood, block walls, wrought iron, and chain link.
Another modification involves burying wire mesh, such as hardware cloth, along the bottom of the fence. This mesh should extend at least 12 inches deep and flare outward in an L-shape to prevent coyotes from digging underneath. Ensuring no climbable objects are near the fence, like stacked firewood or sheds, also removes potential leverage points for coyotes. For existing fences, an additional 24 inches of electrified wire or outward-angled extensions can provide further deterrence.