Coyote Information

Southeast Michigan is having a growing problem with coyotes in neighborhoods.  This can be a problem when homeowners have small pets or young children. While coyotes rarely attack humans, all animals can behave in unexpected ways if they feel threatened. We have prepared some tips from the DNR for dealing with any coyotes that might be present in your neighborhood:

• Never approach or touch a coyote
• Never intentionally feed a coyote
• Eliminate all outside food sources, especially pet foods and bird feeders
• Put garbage out the morning of pickup day
• Clear out wood and brush piles; they are good habitat for rats and mice and may attract coyotes
• Do not allow pets to roam free when coyotes are present - consider keeping pets indoors or accompany them outside, especially at night
• If you see a coyote, yell, clap your hands, bang pots and pans, in general make a lot of noise to scare away the coyote and let it know that this is your space and you don’t want it there. By making yourself seem scary and threatening the coyote should retain its fear of people and easily scare away, this may not work if the coyote is being fed or if there are food sources like pet food or bird feeders in the area.

For more information about coyotes, please visit the following link:

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,4570,7-153-10370_12145_12205-60378--,00.html.