Coyotes

Coyote Facts

Commonly mislabeled as carnivores, coyotes are omnivores and will eat just about anything. Much of their diet consists of rodents and other small mammals along with fruit and carrion, including road-killed deer.

If you spot a coyote in or around Willowsford, do not panic: most coyotes avoid people, and seeing a coyote out during the day is not a cause for alarm, especially in the spring and summer when they’re looking for food for their pups.

Coyotes generally avoid human contact, even when living in urban or suburban areas, and should be left alone.  However, the presence of pet food, compost, dirty BBQ grills or trash can lure coyotes into yards, and a coyote who finds food in one yard may learn to search for food in others. Don’t make your yard a food source to coyotes!

Things to Avoid

• Avoid feeding pets outside, or remove the food bowl as soon as your pet has finished the meal.
• Bird seed on the ground attracts mice and rats and can attract coyotes who feed on rodents.
• Keep trash in containers with tight fitting lids. Place the cans curbside the morning of collection; much wildlife is active at night.
• Keep unattended cats and dogs indoors or in in a secured, covered kennel.