What Attracts Coyotes to Your House?
Coyotes are intelligent and highly adaptable animals that have increasingly been spotted in suburban and urban neighborhoods. Understanding what might be drawing these wild canines to your home is essential, especially if you are a pet owner or simply want to ensure the safety of your household and property.
1. Accessible Food Sources
One of the primary reasons coyotes venture into residential neighborhoods is the availability of easy food. Their keen sense of smell helps them locate food from great distances. Common attractants include:
- Pet food left outdoors – Any kibble or wet food placed on porches or decks is a magnet for wildlife, including coyotes.
- Garbage bins – Open or unsecured trash cans containing food waste provide a buffet for scavenging coyotes.
- Compost heaps – Decomposing organic material can emit strong food odors that draw coyotes in.
- Birdseed or suet – While intended for birds, spilled seeds and fat can attract small prey and in turn, predators like coyotes.
2. Presence of Small Pets
Pets such as cats, small dogs, rabbits, and chickens are enticing quarry for hungry coyotes. Leaving pets unsupervised, especially at night, increases the chance of negative encounters. Coyotes may associate certain yards with easy hunting if they’ve encountered prey there before.
3. Wildlife and Rodents
Residential areas often host populations of squirrels, rats, mice, and rabbits — all of which are usual components of a coyote’s diet. If your property provides good habitat for such animals (e.g., brush, woodpiles, bird feeders), coyotes might follow them in.
4. Fruit-Bearing Trees and Gardens
Coyotes are omnivores and won’t shy away from eating fruit or vegetables. Certain plants can inadvertently serve as a food invitation:
- Fallen fruit – Apples, berries, plums, and other fallen produce draw coyotes.
- Unattended garden plants – Unprotected garden veggies such as corn or melons can also be consumed.
5. Water Sources
In areas experiencing drought or limited water supply, properties with fountains, birdbaths, kiddie pools, or pet water bowls can become frequent stops for coyotes seeking hydration.
6. Shelter Opportunities
Coyotes are always searching for safe, quiet places to rest or den. Common shelter attractants on residential properties include:
- Overgrown vegetation
- Dense shrubs
- Woodpiles
- Underneath decks or sheds
7. Lack of Deterrents
Homes lacking fencing, motion lighting, or scent-based deterrents are more prone to frequent coyote visits. Even with attractants present, deterrents can help discourage their return.
How to Reduce Coyote Attraction
Minimizing the factors listed above can greatly reduce the likelihood of coyote encounters at your home. Here is a quick checklist for prevention:
- Feed pets indoors or remove their food immediately after mealtime.
- Secure trash bins with wildlife-proof lids or store them indoors until collection day.
- Harvest ripe fruit promptly and discard fallen pieces.
- Fence vegetable gardens if possible and use animal-safe deterrents.
- Supervise pets and keep them indoors, especially at dawn and dusk.
- Eliminate hiding spots by trimming overgrown plants and storing wood off the ground.
- Install motion-sensor lights and consider coyote-repelling scents like ammonia or vinegar-soaked rags.
Coyote sightings don’t always signal danger, but understanding and responsibly managing what attracts them is crucial. With mindful adjustments, you can coexist more safely with local wildlife and protect both your pets and environment.
