brit_usa2014

Since 2 days a Coyote has been coming into our driveway. It killed some baby birds which had just been hatched (and not even opened their eyes). Today it has returned to the same spot, I am now worried, don't know what to do- leave it be or contact someone?

Any advice much appreciated!

Nutmegger

Do you have children and/or dogs? If so the first step is to ensure their safety. Remove any bird feeders and ensure your garbage cans are secure. I would talk to your local animal control officer for advice.

Jerseygirl

I don't know where you are in the U.S...but just after we moved into our NJ house 17 years ago...I spotted 2 coyotes on our property. They were a bit of a novelty to us...hubby thought they were scrawny German Shepherds. Little did I know that we should have reported the sightings.

They are a danger to pets and small children. I would call your local police and mention it to them. In the meantime...keep them indoors.

brit_usa2014

Nope, no children/dogs which is a good sign I suppose as far as Coyote is concerned. Didn't even know they were a problem in Massachusetts.

brit_usa2014

I didn't know that we had to report the sightings. We live in Framingham, Mass.

Jerseygirl

It differs from state to state...but to be on the safe side I would report it.

Nutmegger

I live adjacent to a state park, so see them often. In CT there is no mandate to report a sighting-- unless the animal appears to be rabid.

Pulaski

In NC coyotes are a pest animal and can be shot (in all but five NC counties) at any time of year and without a "bag limit" where discharging a firearm is safe and legal. In the five counties where hunting coyotes is not legal, it is because of concerns that someone mistakes a red wolf for a coyote, and the red wolf is critically endangered. At least a couple of red wolves have been shot "by accident" in recent years.

There are five other pest animals in NC that can be legally shot at any time and without limit: groundhogs, nutria (coypu), skunks, armadillos, and feral pigs.

Jerseygirl

We are probably encroaching on their land...but if it came to a choice between my child/dog and a coyote..the coyote would lose.

sir_eccles

Call your city/county animal control.

robin1234

They are now pretty common throughout the northeast. I think, long term, it's a result of the decline in agriculture and the increase in the proportion of land that is forested. I see them frequently in both New York and MA. My daughter lives on Cape Cod, where they were not present formerly, but are now fairly common I believe.

Beaverstate

As the wolves are hunted out coyotes move in. Not instantly of course.

scrubbedexpat091

We have some coyotes in town, recently one was seen taking a pet cat from a yard. Conservation office asks people to call in sightings so they can track to see if there is an issue or just normal activity. (they ask the same for bears, cougars, bob cats, and while rare even wolves sometimes.)

They leave humans alone for the most part, no reports locally of humans being attacked or bothered by them, but pets are another story, cats are on the menu of just about all of the above predators, easy prey, can't blame the animals, pets lack the instincts needed to not be easy prey and need to be kept indoors when not supervised.

Boomhauer

Contact the local humane society and ask them what to do. See if some local authority will trap and release.

We have coyotes in a woodland bordering our backyard but they must be shy for we never see them, though do hear them occasionally.

Beaverstate

Coyotes really aren't very dangerous unless you are a small prey animal including cat and dogs under 40 lbs or so, and rarely a child.

I used to hike the coastal plains and hills of the central California coast and would see several every outing. They would depart as soon as they knew I saw them as they were only interested in ground squirrels and possums.

If one were loitering around my house I would scare it off with loud noises or if needed pepper spray. Being wild animals that can't afford to risk injury, fear and instinct causes them to flee.