They have been known to take up residence here, giving them a prime opportunity at your smaller dogs whenever they may feel like. It is also good to seal any of the potential openings that may be under your shed, deck, or porch. Coyotes can hide in the tall grass, popping out to take a shot at your dog when they see fit. If you have tall grasses in your yard, try to keep that down to a manageable level. While we briefly talked about things such as picking up fallen fruit or animal feces, there are other things that you can do to make the area less attractive. It still couldn’t hurt to keep an eye on your dog at night. Depending on just how bold the coyotes are that you deal with, this may or may not be the most effective solution at night. The idea is that, if the coyotes come around, the lights will pop on and scare them away. Keep them pointed outward toward your fence line if at all possible. Nighttime can be an especially dangerous time for smaller dogs when you know that coyotes permeate the area.Ī great way to keep them at bay is to light your yard up with motion sensor lights at night. If you can’t be with your pet while they are outside, having a coyote vest is one of the best ways to ensure that these predators won’t be very successful even if they do end up getting close enough to do some damage. This makes it quite difficult for the coyotes to get a bite on your dog should they be able to get close enough. The collars are made of Kevlar and even have spikes that run down the back. There are also coyote vests specifically created for smaller dogs. Coyotes will be deterred by human presence, so try to hang around whenever they do need to go outside. The best rule of thumb is to not leave your dog unsupervised. With smaller dogs, there is always a chance that predators could target them. If you have livestock – chickens or lambs – make sure that they are kept in secure pens where the coyotes will not be able to enter.īut other than basic safety tips, are there other ways to keep your dogs protected? Try these tricks. Make sure to clean up the feces as frequently as possible.Īny fallen fruit in or near your yard should be handled as soon as possible, too. As mentioned previously, your pets’ feces can be something that attracts them to your yard. Now that we know why they are frequenting your yard, it is time to do something about it. If you have any large rock gathers, hollowed-out trees, or burrows that may have been created by a skunk or raccoon, these are the perfect hiding spots for coyotes to live in.Ĭheck the area surrounding your yard thoroughly to inspect for hideaways. Their food sources are not as abundant these days thanks to the dwindling of their natural habitats, so they look for reliable, consistent sources of food wherever they can find it.Īdditionally, they may be seeking shelter. If you have chickens or rabbits, the coyote will view them as easy prey. While this may not be a big deal if you don’t have any pets, you could be luring them into the yard to attack your smaller pets if you do have them. They also tend to eat any fallen fruit, so if you have trees that produce fruit on your property, make sure to keep your yard clean as often as possible. They tend to go for smaller dogs and cats, so if you have a large dog it should be enough to deter them. They may smell your dog’s feces, attracting them to at least check out the yard. There are a few things that will attract coyotes to your yard, but the biggest thing is a food source.
With small dogs and cats making for an attractive food source, pet owners have to be more cautious when they know coyotes frequent the area. Not only will coyotes prey on livestock such as lambs and chicken, but they have also been known to attack dogs and cats as well. With their food sources shrinking, coyotes are becoming more adventurous and branching out into neighborhoods.
Also, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Īlthough coyotes may seem like nature’s more feral version of your dog, they are actually quite dangerous to have in the area. If you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, I may earn a commission.