4 Effective Methods to Safely Deter Coyotes and Keep Them Away

If you have coyotes near your yard, you’ll know it! These wild animals can be incredibly dangerous if you have outdoor pets. Coyotes also pose a threat to young children, so how can you safely deter them?

Coyotes can become comfortable in their environment and quickly lose any fear of people. You can hear them howling from miles away! To minimize your likelihood of coming in contact with these animals, here are ways to keep them away from your home.

Signs Coyotes Are In Your Yard

Knowing the warning indications of coyotes’ presence is crucial because they might be challenging to see. Coyote tracks can resemble those of a big dog and are roughly two inches long. Their paw prints often form a continuous line, unlike dog tracks that are dispersed and zigzagged.

Look for them in the dirt or snow. Scats from coyotes are darker in color and more compressed than those from dogs. Shockingly their poop can include bones or hairs from their prey. Since scat is actually a way they communicate with other animals, it is frequently found out in the open.

1. Keep Your Yard Scent-Free

In search of their easiest source of food, coyotes will explore far and wide. This includes searching on your property for anything intriguing they may smell. It’s your job to prevent any enticing smells if you want to keep these critters off your lawn.

Because coyotes will consume nearly anything, it’s critical to keep your waste properly packed in an out-of-the-way, animal-proof receptacle. Keep your garbage can in a garage or barn for further protection.

If you feed any domestic animal outside, be sure to clean up their food and water area after each meal. Additionally, you should guard any areas where coyote prey may gather. This can be a fish pond, bird bath, or outdoor habitat for rabbits or guinea pigs.

When these areas aren’t secured, a coyote will happily walk into your yard and snatch up a free meal. You can deliberately scatter foul scents like wolf pee, ammonia-soaked towels, and moth balls throughout your garden and in garbage cans.

2. Install a Fence

Do you want to know how to permanently keep these predators out of your space? Building a fence is one way to make it incredibly difficult for coyotes to get into your yard. Something to keep in mind is that coyotes can jump.

There are records of them scaling six-foot-tall fences. Adding a fence around the perimeter of your yard should be done in addition to the other methods. That way, a coyote has nothing drawing it beyond the border.

Coyote rollers can be installed on the fence to stop their back legs from gaining traction in addition to erecting a taller fence. Add PVC pipe or barbed wire on top as an additional barrier.

Coyotes can jump and climb, but you also need to ensure the fence is dug deeply enough to keep them from just tunneling under it. We advise installing a fence 12 to 18 inches deep to swiftly prevent any persistent animals from getting to the other side.

3. Install Lights

Use lighting as chemical-free, non-aggressive deterrents. Using solar LED lights or motion-activated floodlights to frighten coyotes away from your land is a harmless way to keep them away.

They might confuse the bright lights during the night for a predator’s eyes! This can make the coyote quickly run in the opposite direction.

4. Keep Pets Indoors at Night

Making sure that any pets, farm animals, and other creatures you may have are locked up safely at nightfall is a method of protection against coyotes. This is an excellent technique to protect the animals and will also assist in avoiding any possible confrontations or issues with coyotes.

By implementing the appropriate safety measures, you could help keep trespassers off your land. It is advisable to keep small livestock animals, such as chickens, in a fenced-in area that is tightly closed. Pets should be walked on leashes and only allowed outside under supervision.

This will lessen the likelihood of any unfavorable coyote interactions.

Final Thoughts

We hope these safe methods help keep coyotes out of your yard. If you ever see a coyote, call the local wildlife organization. Never approach a coyote, even if it appears injured or sick.

Summary of the Safest Methods to Deter Coyotes