What Attracts Coyotes to Your House and How to Keep Them Away
Coyotes are highly adaptable predators commonly found in urban, suburban, and rural areas across North America. Encounters between humans and coyotes have increased in recent years, largely due to habitat urbanization. Knowing what attracts coyotes to your house is essential to prevent unwanted visits and protect your pets and property.
Main Attractions for Coyotes Around Your Home
Coyotes are opportunistic animals that feed on a variety of food sources and use any accessible shelter. Here are the most common things that draw them close:
- Pet Food: Outdoor pet food offers an easy, high-calorie meal for coyotes.
- Garbage and Compost: Open trash cans and compost piles with food scraps attract foraging coyotes.
- Bird Feeders: Spilled seeds attract rodents, which in turn attract coyotes.
- Fallen Fruit: Fruit from trees like apples, berries, and citrus can lure coyotes into your yard.
- Unsecured Pets: Small dogs and cats are considered easy prey for coyotes.
- Standing Water: Coyotes may be in search of water sources, especially in hot climates or during droughts.
- Shelter Areas: Overgrown vegetation, decks, sheds, or woodpiles can provide cover or denning opportunities.
Understanding Coyote Behavior
Coyotes are crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dawn and dusk. Their diet depends largely on what’s available and includes small mammals, birds, fruits, insects, and human-related food sources. They are intelligent, curious, and can lose their fear of humans if they are fed—intentionally or not—and repeatedly return to areas where food is easy to find.
How to Deter Coyotes from Your Property
Thankfully, there are several effective strategies to keep coyotes at bay and ensure your home and pets are safe:
- Secure All Food Sources: Keep pet food indoors, tightly seal garbage bins, and remove fallen fruit from your yard promptly.
- Remove Attractants: Clean grills, empty outdoor water bowls, and eliminate clutter that provides shelter.
- Install Fencing: A fence at least six feet tall with a roller bar or angled top can help stop coyotes from climbing over.
- Use Motion-Activated Devices: Lights and sprinklers can startle and discourage coyotes from lingering.
- Keep Pets Supervised: Always accompany your pets outside, especially during early morning and evening hours.
- Practice Hazing: If you see a coyote, make loud noises, wave your arms, or throw small objects to scare it away and reinforce its natural fear of humans.
What to Do If Coyotes Repeatedly Visit
If you notice frequent coyote activity despite your prevention efforts, consider contacting local wildlife control, especially if they show bold or aggressive behavior. Coyotes that lose their fear of people can become a risk, particularly to small pets and children.
Conclusion
Understanding what attracts coyotes to your house allows you to take preventive action and coexist safely with these wild animals. Reducing access to food, water, and shelter is key to minimizing coyote visits. By being proactive and aware, you can help protect your pets and create an environment that discourages wildlife from coming too close.
