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Coyotes in Ohio

 
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COYOTE TIPS & INFORMATION

DID YOU SEE A COYOTE?
While OWC loves and appreciates these animals, we do not need to know of all coyote sightings.  Please contact us if you have a concern, but otherwise just enjoy the glimpse into nature!

Coyotes are becoming more frequent visitors to neighborhoods in Ohio, whereas in the past they preferred rural environments. They have migrated into our cities to live off “human provided” food sources and over time have learned to be less fearful of people. To reverse this trend and force the coyote to retreat to its more natural habitat, removing all potential food sources is the best way to deter coyote visitors.

Most coyote sightings occur during winter months as these relatively shy animals can roam within residential areas without being confronted by people. This is why most coyote reports occur from December through March. Once the milder spring weather settles in and we spend more time outside, most coyotes will then return to forested areas to avoid human contact. However, if food is readily available, it could become a year-round neighbor.

A coyote couple has a territory of approximately five miles, and a happy coyote family will keep your local ecosystem in balance by keeping other small predators, like feral cats and fox, away from your area.

Tips for Keeping Coyotes Away from your Home
Although they tend to do most of their hunting after dusk, the coyote can be active at any time.  Being out during daylight hours is not odd behavior, especially in winter months when food is scarce.  In most cases, they are no danger to humans. Below are steps you can take in order to avoid a conflict with coyote or other wild animals:

  • Fence outdoor pet and animal enclosures completely and include a roof when possible
  • Keep cats and small dogs inside
  • Pets smaller than 45 pounds should not be left outside unattended for long periods of time at dusk/dark 
  • Keep an eye on small children
  • Feed pets inside and eliminate po­tential food and water sources such as fruit or vegetables and standing water
  • Store trash in covered, heavy-duty containers
  • Keep yards free of potential hiding places. Remove thick brush and weeds and enclose the bottoms of porches and decks
  • Do not use open pits for composting - compost piles make an easy meal for many species of opportunistic eaters. 

In the unlikely scenario of a human-coyote confrontation, do not turn and run away but instead yell and wave your arms or use a stick to fend off the animal. If you happen to have pepper spray, that is also a defensive option.

Background
The coyote was not an original native Ohio species, although it is now present in all 88 counties after its first appearance in 1919. The slender, bushy-tailed animal is extremely adaptable and can make a comfortable home almost anywhere. In Ohio , it prefers hilly farmland mixed with wooded areas near plentiful water sources.

Habits
The coyote is a nocturnal animal, doing most of its hunting after dusk. It will hunt in pairs or family groups in search of small mammals such as shrews, voles and rabbits. The coyote will also eat fruits, grasses and vegetables.

Although the coyote has a reputation for kill­ing sheep and domesticated livestock, studies show that livestock makes up only 14 percent of the coyote’s diet, according to the Ohio Division of Wildlife. In urban areas, coyotes sometimes snatch squirrels, rabbits, raccoons and even food from dumpsters or garbage cans.

They traditionally make excellent mothers and will go to great lengths to transport their young to new dens if they believe their current home is unsafe. They will be­come aggressive when defending their family. 

Friend or Foe?
Coyote are extremely important to the local ecosystem, as a healthy population can help control the populations of rodents, deer and small predators.  Remember that the coyote is not a recreational killer and will only visit your yard if it is made a convenient feeding or nesting ground.  The best thing for us to do is to create and maintain safe backyard practices and keep our distance so we can appreciate and respect this amazing creature.


Photo by Tripp Braden


Watch OWC's resident coyote in the snow

   

The Red-tailed hawk is a medium-sized bird of prey found throughout North America. It is generally non-aggressive toward humans and other birds and is an opportunistic feeder with a diet mostly of small mammals. Raccoons are opportunistic eaters and can be avoided by keeping garbage and compost piles secure, and keeping pet food inside. Photo by Scott Schisler American bullfrogs are common in Ohio and recognized by their deep, throaty song. Photo by Dr. Don Burton Canada goslings are born in the spring and by fall are mature and ready to fly south with their flock. Photo by Katherine Clifton Coyotes were introduced to Ohio and have thrived in urban environments. This coyote, Hope, was unreleasable because she was hand-raised by humans before sent to OWC, and so lacks certain survival skills. Photo by Sue Simunich Mother deer tell their fawns to stay still and low (often curled up) all day while she is away. She will return at dusk and likely move them to a new spot. This is a safety precaution for the fawns, but many times fawns are mistaken to be orphans because of it. Photo by Scott Schisler Black rat snakes are native Ohio snakes. This snake resides at OWC because of injuries that would compromise its ability to survive in the wild. Photo by Sue Simunich. The Chukar is a game-bird in the pheasant family, originally from Asia but introduced to the United States. This Chukar is Tori, who resides at OWC. Photo by Sue Simuncich This male American Kestrel also resides at OWC and can be seen at the center’s outdoor wildlife display. Photo by Deb Keller You may see Eastern Gray squirrels like this in your backyard, consuming seeds, acorns, insects, eggs and other nuts. Photo by Sue Simunich The population of the Leopard frog is decreasing due to pollution and deforestation. They are often good indicators for environmental problems because of their sensitivity to chemical pollutants found both in the air and the water. Photo by Sue Simunich Most Snapping turtles eat plants, small mammals, fish and birds and are quick to take off your finger if you get too close. Photo by Sue Simunich Despite what it looks like, those big tuffs on the top of this Great-horned owl’s head are not ears. To predators, they may look like an easy way to grab the owl, but they are actually just feathers. Photo by Sue Simunich The American Bald Eagle is an endangered species. Photo by Katherine Clifton Male Cardinals are recognized by their bright red appearance. Photo by Scott Schisler The Eastern Fox snake resides in Ohio, Michigan and parts of Canada in flat, marshy areas. Fox snakes will eat primarily small rodents, but will also eat small birds, rabbits and other small animals. Photo by Sue Simunich The wings of the male Kestrel are slate-blue. Females are rusty to match the back feathers. Photo by Deb Keller Flying squirrels are one of the most common squirrels in Ohio, although they are rarely seen because they are nocturnal (meaning they are awake at night time). Photo by Deb Keller Red fox kits stay with their mother and siblings for several months and then go off on their own typically in July. Foxes are generally shy animals. Photo by Scott Schisler The Painted turtle is a reptile that is common in southern Canada, the US, and Mexico and is related to other water turtles like sliders and cooters. They live in ponds, marshes, and slow-moving rivers with muddy bottoms. Photo by Deb Keller Great horned owls hunt at night by waiting on a high perch to swoop down on prey. They eat small to medium-sized mammals like rats, voles, skunks and rabbits. Photo by Deb Keller Blanding’s turtles are a semi-aquatic species found mostly near the Great Lakes regions. Photo by Sue Simunich The Virginia Opossum is about the size of a house cat and “plays dead” as a defense mechanism from predators. Photo by Sue Simunich White-tailed deer have been forced to adapt to urban environments as their natural home is being destroyed by human development. Photo by Katherine Clifton Canada geese are dedicated parents and very social. When one goose is fatigued while flying, they will make sure it is not alone while it rests and will fly in shifts. Photo by Katherine Clifton Bobwhite quails are ground-dwelling birds found in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Photo by Deb Keller Raccoon mothers will call out to their young should they fall from a tree or get lost. As long as she sees them or hears their cries, she will do whatever it takes to retrieve them. Photo by Owen DeWolfe In flight, Red-tailed hawks flap as little as possible to conserve energy. Their flight is slow and deliberate, with deep beats of their wings. Photo by David Harrison The male Red-winged Blackbird fiercely defends his territory during the breeding season. He may spend more than a quarter of all the daylight hours in territory defense. He vigorously keeps all other males out of the territory and defends the nests from predators. He will attack much larger animals, including horses and people. (birds.cornell.edu) Photo by Tripp Braden