Do We Have a Coyote Problem?

Muskego Patch received a plea from a reader on Facebook who had been missing her 13-year-old cat about three weeks ago, and a follow up revealed that the owner felt "the coyotes probably got her."

Without a lot of hard evidence, we expressed our condolences for the loss of her pet, but a recent letter from a reader whose cat was found dead had us revisiting the topic.

"There are many missing cats in the area during the summer of 2012. We are not 100% sure, but we believe they are being taken by the coyotes," wrote the reader, who has requested to remain anonymous because her kids are unaware of their pet's fate. "We have all seen and heard the coyotes often in this area. I believe once they started finding them they are actively looking for them now. When I heard the news from several neighbors I felt compelled to write this warning."

Tom Zagar, conservation coordinator for Muskego, said he has not heard from residents that they are worse than in other years, but advised that they are scavengers and pets left unattended are always prey, whether their populations are up or not.

At the Waukesha County field office for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Tim Lizotte agreed that "coyotes are opportunistic - they're going to eat whatever they can get a hold of," and in some cases, that's your pet.

"They generally eat squirrels, rabbits, but also will eat smaller rodents like mice, voles and shrew," Lizotte said. "However if they perceive that your dog or cat are in their territory, they may attack."

The recent drought has all animals behaving differently according to Lizotte, as food sources are more scarce for the smallest of animals, which have them behaving differently. The action on one end of the food chain affects the rest, and as a result residents may see changes.

A few tips for keeping the varmints away from your property include:

• Install a six-foot fence. While not the least costly option, this will keep family members and pets safe from prowling coyotes. Coyotes are not high jumpers so the tall fence does a great job of keeping them away.

• Light it up: Coyotes are night animals so it is also suggested that lighting up the yard an home perimeter will also keep them away. Like most wild animals, coyotes have an instinctual fear of fire and light triggers the same "keep away" response in them.

• Trash is their treasure: Keep all yard and other trash put away in locked cans or dumpsters. One reason coyotes come around is for a free meal. Be sure to put away all foods from outdoor parties as well. This will keep odors from luring coyotes and other scavengers away from normal feeding grounds and into your yard.

• Fence in your produce: Gardens in the yard are another banquet for wild predators such as coyotes. Be sure to keep yard gardens and compost piles well enclosed. Coyotes may still smell the garbage from the compost pile and the food in the garden but the fence will keep them away from it.

• Talk to neighbors about following these same tips for keeping coyotes away from the yard. If the whole neighborhood is working to keep coyotes away, your yard becomes a safer place.

• Keep yard bushes trimmed and yard trimmings thrown away. This gives predators like coyotes no available place to hide. Be sure the yard has no convenient den spots. This would be a cave like place that provides shelter, rather than keeping coyotes away.

• Keep pets inside and away from coyotes, especially if you aren't going to be with them. When pets are in the yard, either stay with them or keep them in a coyote safe enclosure. Allowing pets to roam freely is like providing food for the coyotes. It does nothing to keep them away from the neighborhood or yard.

• Use caution when walking at night in a neighborhood known to have coyotes. Bring a flashlight to keep coyotes away. Whenever walking a pet away from the yard, keep the pet on a short leash. Pick the pet up if coyotes are encountered.

• If you see a coyote, become a nuisance and keep a safe distance away. Make a great deal of noise by banging on pots and pans or other metal. Loud noises will keep coyotes away from the yard. Coyotes can also be kept away from the yard by throwing stones at them.

• Mark your territory, sort of. There are animal urine repellents that will also keep coyotes away from unfenced yards. You can get them here. Coyotes will not go near the territories of some animals.