Coyote Introduction
The coyote (Canis latrans), also known as 'America's song dog,' ranges throughout North America, Central America, and Mexico, with Texas and California having the highest population density. Coyotes weigh 20-40 lbs and are usually brown or buff-colored and have long, pointy ears. These canines are also called the brush wolf or prairie wolf, although coyotes are not wolves. The coyote's diet largely consists of white-tailed deer, snowshoe hare, mice, rats, and wild berries.
Coyotes and Wolves. What's the Difference?
Wolves and coyotes both belong to the Canidae family, though they are genetically different. However, 25–50% of coyote DNA has been found in the Eastern wolf, which is native to the Great Lakes region and southeastern Canada. Another contrast between these two canids is that the wolf is the ancestor of all domestic canids, and the coyote is not.
Do Coyotes Attack Humans?
Coyote attacks on humans are extremely rare, and only two fatalities have occurred. Coyotes attack humans when they associate them with food or lose their fear of them, which is almost always caused by people intentionally feeding coyotes. Coyotes may become accustomed to snatching food and running away, which is often mistaken for bites. There are also various methods to protect your outdoor pets from coyote attacks, such as the CoyoteVest. The CoyoteVest is a specialized armor vest (and collar) for dogs and cats that has sharp metal spikes and dense bristles along the back and neck, which can help deter coyotes from attacking. This is an effective method that is non-lethal and keeps your pets safe. Vests can be purchased through their website, coyotevest.com
Ecological Role
Coyotes primarily control the overabundance of rodents and other small animals like mice, rats, voles, rabbits, and insects that we call pests. Coyotes are also scavengers and feed on carrion. Because their diet consists primarily of rodents, coyotes are essential for disease control. Mice and rats carry a variety of different zoonotic diseases that are transmissible to humans, such as Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is a serious, rodent-specific disease that is transmissible to humans through airborne particles containing the virus. Hantavirus can be fatal, with a 38% to 50% mortality rate. Once contracted, the virus progresses rapidly. Flu-like symptoms such as a fever, headache, muscle pain, and fatigue manifest, and symptoms worsen over time. In some cases, the patient recovers. In others, the disease leads to eventual organ failure and death. There is no preventive vaccine or antiviral medication, but intensive care unit treatment can help. Coyotes cannot spread hantavirus and are considered a 'dead-end' host, meaning they cannot transmit the infection through their saliva, urine, or feces to humans or pets. A single coyote can consume well over 1,000 to 1,800 rodents in a single year, and accounts for up to 70% of their diet, making them excellent pest control.
Preventing Conflict
Because of human development, coyotes are being pushed into urban and suburban areas. As a result, coyotes pose a threat to pets like cats and small dogs. They are also attracted to various other food sources, such as pet food left outside, garbage cans, and compost bins. While coyotes are opportunistic omnivores and often shift their diet depending on available food, their primary diet consists of small rodents (42%), fruit (23%), deer (22%), and rabbit (18%) in urban and suburban areas, according to a scat analysis conducted by the Urban Coyote Research Project. This suggests that coyote predation on pets is not as common as some may think. However, they do occur occasionally, which is the leading factor for negative perceptions of coyotes in metropolitan regions. The loss of a pet, especially due to a predator, is a traumatic experience for pet owners, but it is easily preventable. Do not leave pets unattended outside, especially at dusk or dawn, as these are times when coyotes are most active. Keeping small pets indoors and supervising them when they are outside significantly lowers the risk of a coyote attack; most attacks occur when the pet is alone. Securing garbage containers and not leaving pet food outside is also effective.
Dogs
Some individuals may argue that keeping pets indoors is ‘cruel’ and that it’s healthy for them to be outside. This is true for dogs in some cases (usually larger breeds), such as working and sporting dogs like retrievers, German shepherds, border collies, etc., that were specifically bred for physical exertion and need ample exercise and space. Toy breeds, such as Chihuahuas, Malteses, miniature poodles, and pugs, however, were bred to be lap dogs, spending the majority of their time indoors. Of course, all dogs need exercise, and walks are an excellent way to achieve this. Coyote attacks happen less frequently when humans are present, as coyotes are fearful of humans unless they have become accustomed to them*. Other alternatives include vests for dogs to wear that come equipped with a sort of ‘armor’ that protects against coyotes. The most popular brand selling these products is CoyoteVest, a family-owned business founded by a couple who lost their dog to a coyote. The CoyoteVest is a vest with chrome spikes for the neck and back. An add-on called ‘CoyoteWhiskers’, which irritates the attacker’s eyes if they get too close, can also be purchased from their store. CoyoteVest is proven to be highly effective in giving the owners more time to safely secure their dog and prevent serious injuries. The vest also protects against other predators, such as hawks and aggressive dogs. The CoyoteVest was even featured on the American business reality television series Shark Tank. This product is favored by several coyote coexistence groups as it is an effective and non-lethal method of preventing coyote-pet-related injuries and deaths.
Cats
Outdoor domestic cats are occasionally killed by coyotes, as they are around the same size as their natural food sources. Like domestic dogs, cats should be kept indoors; perhaps even more so than dogs. Outdoor cats are detrimental to songbird populations, including endangered species. It’s estimated that outdoor domestic cats kill over 2.4 billion birds annually in the U.S., which puts native species at risk. Keeping your cat indoors is not only beneficial to wildlife but also to the cat. Studies prove that indoor cats live 12–18 years compared to 2–5 years for outdoor cats. It’s also important to consider the other dangers posed to your pet by leaving them outdoors. Outside, pets are at a high risk of contracting various diseases, getting hit by cars, fighting with other animals, and exposure to chemicals such as fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and rodenticides — all of which are highly toxic and even fatal if not treated immediately by a veterinarian. For the safety of both pets and wildlife, it’s recommended to keep them indoors.
