Coyotes have become common inhabitants of urban and suburban landscapes, drawn to the resources available in residential areas. These highly adaptable predators will continue to frequent a yard if they perceive it as a reliable source of food or shelter. The primary goal of prevention is to consistently condition coyotes to associate human properties with discomfort and scarcity. This teaches them that your yard is an undesirable place to visit, which is a sustainable solution. A multi-faceted approach involving resource denial, physical barriers, and assertive behavior is the most effective way to encourage them to move on.
Removing Primary Attractants
Coyotes are opportunistic scavengers, attracted to easy, accessible food sources. Securing garbage is a fundamental step, requiring containers with tight-fitting, locking lids or latches to prevent easy access. If possible, storing trash cans in a garage or shed until the morning of collection day significantly reduces the overnight temptation for foraging coyotes.
Pet food and water left outdoors are major attractants that must be removed entirely. If an outdoor feeding schedule is necessary for a pet, the bowl should be placed out for a short, set period and immediately cleaned and brought inside once the animal is finished. Fallen fruit from trees should be promptly cleaned up from the ground, as coyotes readily consume berries and fruit.
Even seemingly innocuous items like bird feeders can indirectly attract coyotes. The spilled seed often draws rodents, such as mice and squirrels, which are a natural prey source for coyotes. To eliminate this secondary attraction, bird feeders should be removed or the ground beneath them must be cleaned daily. Trimming back dense landscaping, brush piles, and sealing access underneath decks or sheds also helps, as these areas can provide coyotes with shelter or denning sites.
Fortifying the Yard Perimeter
Physical barriers provide a permanent deterrent, important for protecting small pets or livestock. An effective coyote fence should stand at a minimum height of 6 feet, as coyotes are capable of jumping considerable heights. Fences up to 8 feet tall are recommended, making scaling the barrier extremely difficult.
Preventing a coyote from digging underneath the fence line is equally important, as they are determined tunnelers. This can be achieved by burying heavy-gauge wire mesh at least 12 inches deep along the fence base. A more effective technique involves burying the mesh in an L-shaped footer that angles outward horizontally for 12 to 18 inches, creating a deterrent apron.
For existing fences, specialized devices like “coyote rollers” can be installed along the top edge. These aluminum cylinders spin freely when a coyote attempts to gain purchase, making it impossible for the animal to climb over the fence. For small enclosures, such as chicken coops, a secure roof or overhead netting is necessary to prevent coyotes from above.
Utilizing Active Deterrence (Hazing)
Hazing is the practice of making a coyote uncomfortable without causing injury, reinforcing its natural wariness of humans. This technique must be assertive and consistent to teach the animal that being in the yard is an unpleasant experience. When a coyote is spotted, immediately appear large, wave arms, and shout loudly.
Using a variety of noisemakers helps prevent the coyote from becoming accustomed to a single sound, so tools like air horns, whistles, or soda cans filled with pennies are recommended. Projectiles, such as tennis balls, small rocks, or sticks, can be thrown toward the coyote to startle it, but never at the animal. Motion-activated sprinklers or predator lights can also serve as passive hazing tools when a coyote enters the property at night.
The hazing effort must continue until the coyote has completely left the area, not just run a short distance away. If a coyote stops and turns to look back, the hazing should be re-initiated with increased intensity. Active vigilance is important for pet owners; dogs should always be walked on a short leash and never left outside unattended, especially during dawn and dusk hours when coyotes are most active.