Coyote behavior

[monstrpony]

I’m not a hunter, fox or coyote, but have had both on my property. About three-five years ago, I had a family of foxes on my property. This winter, I’ve heard coyote packs singing at night and I understand they are moving in to the forest around my place.

Last night, I had a single coyote serenade me at about 1:30 am. I swear, it was right on my driveway outside my bedroom window! Interesting that my dogs, who were all in bed with me, only listened, and didn’t start any barking of their own until the song was almost over.

Anyhow, I dont’ think it’s the first time I’ve had one right near my house, but it is the first time I’ve heard one singing so close. What does it mean when a single coyote starts singing? Did he bag one of the many rabbits that frequent the yard?

And, should I be worried for my horses? They’re confined to a field-wire and three-board fenced paddock at night, with free run in/out of the barn. I also have two mini-donkeys in with the two horses.

It seems these coyotes are getting braver and braver about “sharing” my property. Any concerns here?

[Lilykoi]

Not sure about the larger animals but you definitely need to be concerned about the dogs and cats. We have had them come right up to the barn door, I think looking for the cat food. They will eat just about anything. Our Jack Russell has tangled with them twice and lived to tell the tale. (After some pretty extensive repair work by our vet!) One house cat has not been so lucky. They do have clever ways of tempting dogs into vulnerable places so the pack can take care of them. Don’t be confident because you have big dogs. They have taken care of a friend’s Doberman. The single coyote may be a female who is trying to lure your dogs away. Its all about territory and reducing competition. I feel bad in one way, since we are removing their domain and they have less places to hunt naturally. They adapt quite easily. I swear they know what day garbage day is in the different neighboroods around here. Maybe someone else can advise on the mini donkeys. We have only big horses and my old mare chases them out of the field!

[KnKShowmom]

I will wake up some nights and hear one calling and then a whole pack will join in - gives me the chills and drives my 2 Labs nuts!!

I have always enjoyed having the fox around, but coyotes not so much - don’t trust them a bit! Not the same class act you get with a fox.

[monstrpony]

My dogs, not large, are confined during the day in a ~1/4 acre lot surrounded by 4’ high, 2" square woven wire fencing. Normally, they are in the house with me at night, but I was gone over the weekend and had a horse/farm care friend come by to feed everyone. The dogs stayed out that night, but have access via a dog door to a space under the house, for warmth. Perhaps them being out that night gave the coyote the idea to try to lure them away. Fortunately, I won’t need to leave them out any more in the near future. They are never outside the fence unless they are with me.

The mini-donks are supposed to be very aggressive toward canids, and I’m confident that they could manage a single coyote. My concern is that the rest of the pack will start visiting, and that could be an issue for the donkey girls. I’m wondering what I might do to discourage them–leave outside lights on or some such.

[Lilykoi]

If they become a problem for the mini-donks, get a llama. They are quite formidable also.
I’ve heard of breeding facilities keeping them around to protect foals.

[cloudyandcallie]

Keep small dogs and all your cats inside. The hooved animals should be fine.

Too many coyotes all over now and they are smart.

[ab06]

Yes, I would be quite concerned for your dogs without supervision, but it sounds like you keep them close. One coyote will yip or howl to draw the dog away from the house while the rest of the pack is waiting in the dark for the kill. Creepy.

I would venture to guess that the coyotes are the reason you no longer have your fox family around. They killed off all of the red foxes in our hunt country long ago and now we almost exclusively hunt coyote and the occasional bobcat.

[JSwan]

Around here they are packing up and taking down calves. I’d hazard a guess and say they’re coydogs but I’m not sure.

I overheard one of my neighbors telling another neighbor about a dog that had been snatched off someone’s porch. Probably some small dog or maybe an old one… dunno how credible that particular story is.

They do run the fox out - bigger predator.

I don’t mind them much - but I do try and keep my eyes peeled for scat and tracks. If I think they’re getting too close to my livestock or pets… I’d keep the .22 handy.

The winter has been pretty mild and there should be plenty to eat so I’ve not been too worried. Around calving time, or if you’re leaving small animals unattended… that would be a concern.

Don’t worry about the horses. Coyote aren’t stupid.

[MistyBlue]

It’s mid-February…breeding season for coyote and fox. You will hear singing…and serenading. We might find it not so pretty to listen to, but believe me when I say the lady coyote and vixens find these songs irresistible. :lol:
Your coyote was singing to his mate, being a real Romeo. Next time try opening the window and hollering back, they’ll carry quite a conversation on with you. :yes:
Don’t worry about your horses…a full grown male coyote weighs less than a beagle. They look larger because they have longer legs than most dog breeds and have poofy coats…but underneath they’re small built animals. They don’t hunt large prey. They will eat large dead prey or harass large injured prey, but a healthy normal full grown horse isn’t in any danger. My late mare used to get a kick out of trying to smush them for fun. My current geldings try playing with them…which they don’t like so much. :winkgrin:
If you have medium to large dogs, I wouldn’t worry. If you have small dogs, worry. No going outside without supervision. Same with cats, rabbits, chickens, small goats, etc. They leave minis alone usually…my neighbor has 2 minis and I rehab more coyotes than I can count and many come back for “visits” and her two minis ignore them even when they cut across the paddock. The coyotes ignore the minis too…except when they stop and stare and try to figure out what those two short hairballs are, LOL! Guido, her mini donk just hollers at them and makes their hair stand on end.
If you see one enticing yoour medium to large dogs to play…they’re most likely doing exactly that…wanting to play. Coyotes are very NON-wolf like in that regard…they’re excessively curious and playful and regularly do play with dogs. My GSD plays with the ones around here often enough that I worry about him getting fleas and shortened the time in between his frontline applications. They’ll also commonly sit a distance away and watch activity…like you working on the farm, the horses moving about, the dogs outside, etc. If you want to move them off your property you can either start nailing them with a paintball rifle whenever you see them (they’ll move somewhere else) or you can go to a local hunting supply store and ask them to order you some wolf musk. Wolves are the common anti-coyote deterrents…when wolves move into a territory one of their first orders of business is to track down and erradicate all competition hunters…other wolf packs, fox and coyote. Wolves only eat large prey once in a while and survive mainly on the same small prey coyotes and fox thrive on like squirrels, ground hogs, mice, rats, frogs, ducks, geese, large and small birds, etc. Coyote smelling wolf markings leave the area pretty darned fast in order to protect themselves and their offspring. Use the wolf musk mixed with veggie oil in a spray bottle and squirt around your property’s perimeter. Refresh it once a week. Do NOT get it on you…you will smell to high heaven and it doesn’t wash off easily. Not to mention your dogs will probably start peeing on you. Don’t ask how I know this.

[gypsymare]

I’ve got a Paint with more “coyote” than “cow”. I didn’t see them around my family’s place in PA until the past 2 years but I’d had the mare boarded on a ranch in New Mexico while I lived there and we had a ball chasing coyotes. You could see them from quite a way off over the short fields. Well one evening I look out my window (back in PA) to see said mare running hell bent towards the end of the pasture–right at one terrified coyote. I haven’t seen any around since, but I do hear them and suspect that’s why a couple of the chickens dissappeared.

[wateryglen]

Nocturnal too!

Also, coyotes are mostly nocturnal and snooze during the day. The exception is after they’ve cubbed and have to hunt day & night to feed them. Most of my encounters have been in June,July, August when the cubs are larger and the parents are hunting constantly to feed them.
So I’d recommend just not letting the smaller animals out until an hours after sunrise and have them in an hour before sunset. I’ve lost cats to them and had them go after my dog but that was trailriding near a den.
Funny how their howling doesn’t bother horses/dogs but creeps me out for sure. Sounds like a pack of hyenas! :eek:

[Lilykoi]

They are pretty bold here. We see them out during the day now quite frequently. A neighbor lost a dog to one at 10 in the morning. I still believe its my responsibility to
keep my animals safe. Just making it a little harder.