Coyotes Cause Concern in Several Geist Neighborhoods

Hearing howls in the night sent Meg Sterchi on a search for information about the urban coyotes which have become her new neighbors in Feather Cove III.

At first, she wasn’t sure what was making the eerie noise every evening.  She suspected coyotes, but her husband, David, didn’t believe it until he spotted one howling in their backyard, under a tree right next to their kids’ playset.  As a mother of two, that concerned Meg.

“We have paths through the woods the kids walk on,” she said.

Meg started researching urban coyotes and learned that they are becoming less afraid of humans as they lose their natural habitat to urbanization.

Coyotes usually prey on small animals like mice but are very adaptable and will eat a wide array of food including squirrels, rabbits, livestock, deer fawns, wild fruit, garbage, roadkill, and yes, even household pets.

“We’re taking their habitat, so they’re adapting as best they can, and they’re finding ample opportunity in the suburbs,” said District Wildlife Biologist Rick Peercy. “They’re not opposed to eating a cat or a small dog if necessary.”

Sterchi said a neighbor’s cat was ripped from a screened-in porch by coyotes this summer, and coyotes have been a topic of conversation and concern among fellow members of Geist Clubhouse, which sits in Admiral’s Bay at Geist subdivision near several wooded areas.

So far, there have been no reports of coyotes harming children, but Peercy recommends keeping a close eye on small children in areas where coyotes have been seen or heard.  As winter approaches and food sources are becoming scarcer, coyotes may be forming packs to take down larger prey, he said.

By fall, young coyotes who were born in the spring are large enough to be on their own. They are most active from dusk to dawn. As they become less fearful of people, however, coyotes may be seen during daylight hours.

In fact, coyotes often associate people with an easy source of food, according to information from the U.S. Department of Agriculture on managing urban and suburban coyote problems.  Uncovered garbage, pet food left outside and even bird feeders can encourage coyotes to move closer to residences.

As Indianapolis continues to sprawl, urban coyotes will increasingly be spotted in the suburbs.

“As we take away their habitat, we have to learn to co-exist with them,” Peercy said.

That doesn’t mean we should put out the welcome mat.  Hunting is the best form of coyote management, but that’s not an option within city limits, where guns cannot legally be discharged. When coyotes are spotted, Peercy recommends trying to scare them away with loud noises and motion-sensored lights. To be coyote-proof, fences need to be at least six feet tall with the bottom extending at least 6 inches into the ground, as coyotes will dig under fences to get at prey.

The USDA offers these additional tips for discouraging coyotes from taking up residence in your neighborhood:
·        Do not feed coyotes!
·        Feed pets indoors whenever possible and do not leave pet food or water dishes outside after dark.
·        Consider removing bird feeders, as they attract birds and rodents, which are prey for coyotes.
·        Secure garbage containers with tight-fitting lids.
·        Trim any shrubbery that could provide hiding cover for coyotes or attract prey.
·        Do not allow pets to roam free, especially at night.

If problems persist in your backyard, you may contact the DNR Wildlife Conflicts Information Hotline at (800) 893-4116 for more tips or to obtain a list of contractors who will remove nuisance wildlife for a fee.