Why would my urban neighborhood have a coyote roaming around?

[CTyankee]

I live in New Haven, CT. Granted, we live in an area next to some woods and the woodlands Yale Golf Course. But we just got a neighborhood alert that a coyote was spotted loping by her house and to keep a watchful eye on pets and children. But I can't help wondering how a coyote can co-exist with such an urbanized area.

Any info would be helpful to us. We don't have kids or pets and I'm not particularly concerned. Just wondering at the oddity of it...but I'm not too knowledgeable about the habits of coyotes in the NE.

[villager]

1. They are smart about filling in empty niches, those coyotes...

While wolves and bears were being slaughtered by Lord God Man, that kept a lot of competition/pressure off coyotes, and allowed them to expand their range, and fill empty niches...

That, combined with exurban overdevelopment means they are now popping up in areas where they haven't been seen before...

...fully earning their "Trickster" image!

[CTyankee]

5. I guess we'll have to start calling him "wily"!

I don't know if I'd wanna be playing on that Yale Golf Course any time soon. It's pretty but there's prolly coyotes in them their woods...

[longship]

62. They're nocturnal, so no worries.

They hunt at night... in packs, BTW.

So I'd stay off the links after dark, if I were you.


Hope you are well, my friend.

[CTyankee]

64. I'm fine. I don't play golf. I don't walk on the Yale Golf Course any more...

thanks for asking. Hope you are well, too....

[truebluegreen]

80. Um, I see them in broad daylight all the time.

[longship]

82. Nevertheless, they are nocturnal

They hunt at night.

I live in the midst of the national forest in MI. I hear the coyotes at night when it is warm enough to keep windows open, when they are on the prowl. I have seen a couple the last few years, one during the daytime on my land.

I have no idea whether urban coyotes are nocturnal or not, but I suspect that they are. It is very likely that that behavior is genetic and not easily changed. And like rural coyotes (or deer, also nocturnal), if one disturbs a coyote during the daytime it will run away. That offers one an opportunity to see one on occasion during the daytime. That does not nullify the fact that they are inherently nocturnal.

[truebluegreen]

86. We lived on a large piece of land

bordering a sizable creek and wildlife area, not an urban area at all. I saw coyotes probably 2 days out 3, out in the open in the hay field, sometimes one, sometimes a pair, sometimes a pack. They did not run away when they saw me or us, or my large dogs...they kept an eye on us, and kept their distance (except for trying to lure the dogs out), but I wouldn't call them afraid.

[markonthemark]

93. Yes

I see them in the day. Once had a landlord who had a food pile so he could shoot them. He had a lot of land, they weren't a problem, but he was a bit of a nut. Have seen them eating a kill in the day too. They are opportunists and will hunt in the day when very hungry.

[NutmegYankee]

2. They have gotten used to people.

They are all over the state. I have seen them walking down the road in my small neighborhood in Oakdale.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Urban coyotes have become quite common. 2,000 live in downtown Chicago.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141121-coyotes-animals-science-chicago-cities-urban-nation/

[3catwoman3]

79. Last year, or maybe the year before, one walked into...

...a convenience store and right into the freezer unit to cool off. Very adaptable, indeed.

We hear them yipping at night in our far northwest Chicago suburb, and I have seen them trot leisurely across neighborhood roads.

[waddirum]

84. awesome article

The video cams show that the coyotes are largely subsisting on rabbits, squirrels, birds, and other natural prey. None of the the video collared coyotes were seen eating pets, and very little scavenging in garbage.

[NutmegYankee]

4. Here's the DEEP fact sheet:

http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325992

Background
Coyotes were not originally found in Connecticut, but have extended their range eastward during the last 100 years from the western plains and midwestern United States, through Canada and into the northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. Coyotes were first reported in Connecticut in the mid-1950s. For the next 10 years, most coyote reports were from northwestern Connecticut. Coyotes eventually expanded their range throughout the entire state and are now a part of Connecticut’s ecosystem. The coyote is one wildlife species that has adapted to human-disturbed environments and can thrive in close proximity to populated areas.

Range
Originally an inhabitant of the western plains of the United States, the coyote now occurs from Alaska south into Central America and east from the Atlantic Provinces to the southeastern United States.

[CTyankee]

10. Thanks. Who knew?

There's so little forestation around that golf course you'd think it would be difficult for them to be born and raised w/o people interfering with them. But hey, I'm cool with that...I don't play golf, have kids or pets...

[NutmegYankee]

19. They aren't really a threat to people.

I hike solo in the woods many weekends, and have only sighted them once, and it fled quickly. I've actually seen them more often in the neighborhood than in the woods, usually at dusk or night.

[Hekate]

35. They will take small pets, for sure, and backyard chicken flocks.

I live in a suburban tract with a wildland interface on one side. What with the foothills, the dry creek, and the 10 acre undeveloped open space, they can be heard singing on 3 sides some nights.

This is the California central coast, not far from the ocean. Coyotes have always been here. Years ago I read how they managed to spread across the continent, and was greatly amused by the Trickster's wiles: coyotes traveled along human roads, railroad tracks, and tunnels. They are very smart.

[Ex Lurker]

38. Definitely want to be mindful of your dogs and other pets with coyotes about NT

[Kablooie]

74. That's good because they eat pets, kids and golf balls.

I live in LA and we've got tons of coyotes that wander the streets at night but I've never heard of an attack on a human and very rarely a small pet that disappears.

Golf balls have to run for cover though.

[treestar]

75. They are taking over!

Good info, by the way.

[Thinkingabout]

6. Coyotes are in urban areas, I work in a business building complex and I have seen and heard coyotes.

We sorta invaded their area and their population is growing.

[Ex Lurker]

39. Sort of, but only indirectly

Coyotes are native to the Southwest and only begin spreading through the rest of the continent in the last 100 years or so. We killed off wolves, and coyotes filled that niche.

[Thinkingabout]

40. And besides, they do not know property lines.

[frazzled]

7. We have urban coyotes in downtown Chicago

a city of millions.

An extreme breed of coyote is finding there's no finer place than downtown Chicago, where the predator has learned to lurk under the radar of city life, new data show.

The versatile carnivore, native to middle America, has spread into nearly every corner of the U.S. in the past few decades, taking particular advantage of the suburbs and their wildlife buffet. (Related: "Coyote-Wolf Hybrids Have Spread Across U.S. East.&quot

But in some metropolitan areas, such as the Windy City, populations are now so high that no vacancies are left in the suburbs for these highly territorial animals—which means youngsters are being forced to strike out into the only remaining habitat: downtown.

Among the skyscrapers of Michigan Avenue and busy Lake Shore Drive, these animals are "pushing their ecological envelope," said Stan Gehrt, a wildlife ecologist at Ohio State University in Columbus, who has been studying coyotes since 2000.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/11/141121-coyotes-animals-science-chicago-cities-urban-nation/

[uppityperson]

8. Coyotes have adapted to living many places, including large cities.

not sure about the NE, but I know they live in Seattle and Portland, OR

[NutmegYankee]

17. They are here and of a larger size than their Western counterpart.

They may have cross bred with Canadian Wolves, hence the heavier weights in the Eastern variety.

[Abnredleg]

9. Coyotes are very Adaptable

They've been found in Central Park and Chicago's Lower Wacker Drive. Plenty of garbage to eat and nooks and crannies to hide in.

[dflprincess]

85. They are awfully common in the Minneapolis suburbs

with both the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers in the area I've just assumed that they followed those into the suburban and urban areas from the more rural parts of the state. And there certainly isn't any shortage of prey for them along the rivers (plus small dogs and cats once they get into the 'burbs.)

But I cannot figure out how they've found their way to Central Park. They had to come through the tunnels, over a bridge, or swam the rivers. They do seem to be getting fearless.

[CanonRay]

11. Lots of good stuff to eat

Cats, poodles, and such. I believe the coyotes just took care of the raccoons living in the little patch of woods next to my house. They are pretty common everywhere, including where man is in large numbers.

[CTyankee]

14. would they be able to catch a cat that wasn't old or very young or sick?

[NutmegYankee]

16. Yes.

Cat's are not used to being the prey.

[tblue37]

24. And cats are very teritorial and can be very brave. Think of the videos we've seen of

cats chasing off or treeing bears and body slamming the dog that attacked a family's 4-year-old son, etc.

Some cats are too brave for their own good!

[NutmegYankee]

29. One of the reasons mine is an indoor kitty only.

[Hekate]

36. Yes.

[truebluegreen]

45. They will also entice a dog to come out and "play"

then surround it and tear it to pieces. Not just small dogs either: they tried it on numerous occasions with my Doberman/German Shepherd cross. I've seen him with as many as six circling around. Fortunately he was quite the athlete, bigger, stronger and faster than they were; not aggressive but too smart to be trusting, and he survived to learn caution. They never quit trying though.

[CanonRay]

90. Yes, I've seen them act injured to lure a dog out

with the rest of the pack waiting. A pack can easily trap and kill a cat as well.

[jberryhill]

69. Absolutely

[underahedgerow]

96. I conducted a 5 year survey of coyote sightings in Los Angeles & they always turned up near feral

cat colonies that we were monitoring.

There was one spate of domestic cats in one neighborhood that were being mutilated, but it didn't seem indicative of coyote efforts and we came to believe it was a neighborhood boy with psychological issues. Once he and his family were spoken it, it stopped, but we really weren't able to draw a conclusion.

But definitely always else in the vicinity of feral cat colonies.

Circle of life.

[pinboy3niner]

12. Keep your eyes and ears open for another visitor...

[SoCalDem]

13. Habitat destruction..

and the ready supply of a daily buffet (pets)

[CTyankee]

18. would they be afraid of grown humans just walking by?

I used to walk on the Yale Golf Course off season since it's so near to my house and one day in Feb. I was there and suddenly realized I was all alone and got very scared...not about coyotes but about human predators...I couldn't get home fast enough...it was terrifying at the time...

[jberryhill]

23. Yes

They strongly prefer to avoid people unless someone has been feeding them.

Coyote or wolf attacks on humans are virtually nonexistent. Coywolves are bolder,but also would strongly prefer to avoid a confrontation with a human.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyote_attacks_on_humans

[tblue37]

25. But if you run into more than one, all bets are off. nt

[jberryhill]

28. Or stray dogs

Packs of Canis Familiarus are best avoided as well.

[CTyankee]

44. funny, tho, we don't have packs of dogs...every dog I see in my neighborhood is leashed.

[GP6971]

37. Got that right

We live in the south Puget Sound area and we back up against a wildlife refuge. You rarely see one alone.....they usually travel in packs of 4 to 6. We hear them them more than see them, but a couple of times I've seen them run across our back yard.

[miyazaki]

15. Their planet too, and just trying to make a buck like everyone else.

Like the old saying, they're at the mercy of men who have no mercy. Along with bears, wolves etc...

[jberryhill]

20. Look up coywolf

There is a coyote-wolf hybrid becoming prominent in urban areas of eastern Canada and northeast US areas. It is more well adapted for urban and suburban areas than either the coyote or the wolf.

[CTyankee]

21. the google just told me coyotes are classified "canus"

[jberryhill]

26. Yes, they can interbreed with Wolves

And stress on both wolves and coyotes has increased the incidence of them interbreeding.

[CTyankee]

47. holy shit...

ACK

[jberryhill]

68. This is worth watching

PBS Nature - Meet The Coywolf

Compare this to the behavior you are observing.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/coywolf-meet-the-coywolf/8605/

[femmedem]

73. My husband saw a coywolf in New London CT.

He was with two scraggly coyotes, but he was huge and magnificent.

[Beringia]

22. Project Coyote

http://www.projectcoyote.org/Be_Coyote_Aware_Flyer_NPS_PC.pdf

http://www.projectcoyote.org/index.html

Everything you want to know about living with coyotes

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

27. I live not far from the ocean in a heavily traveled suburban neighborhood

in Orange County, California and we have coyotes and possums that roam around the neighborhood and there's a skunk living under my house. I'm sure these animals come from a vast wetlands several miles away but I have no idea how these wild animals get across the extremely congested roads surrounding the place where I live that I can barely get across with my car, there's so much traffic. And there used to be a pair of ducks that flew into my yard every spring and which I used to feed.

[shanti]

61. the coyotes travel the riverbeds in OC

that's how they get around. i grew up in central OC, but never saw them back in the day.

[dhol82]

30. Just as an addendum

There was a coyote apprehended in a mall at the southern tip of Manhattan. There are evidently lots of them all over New York City (and the boroughs).

[Baclava]

31. Coyote Fact Sheet - CT.gov

Living with Coyotes

As coyotes have become more common, public concerns about coyotes attacking pets and people, especially children, have increased. Although some coyotes may exhibit bold behavior near people, the risk of a coyote attacking a person is extremely low. This risk can increase if coyotes are intentionally fed and then learn to associate people with food.

http://www.ct.gov/deep/cwp/view.asp?a=2723&q=325992

[LiberalElite]

32. Heck, why not? We had one roaming in Queens, NY and

the Upper West Side of Manhattan recently.

[Historic NY]

33. Road kill, its a free lunch.....

they are opportunistic and will stay where they get meals. I have then living in the wooded area behind my burb house all last summer.

[backscatter712]

34. Coyotes are adaptable critters.

They're essentially a type of wild dog, like Fido, but with a bad attitude, as they're not domesticated.

Anywhere where they have space to roam and something to eat, chances are good they may come in and set up shop.

I live in Colorado, and coyotes are around all the time. No big deal here. Probably don't want to let your cats out when they're around, lest they become lunch.

[Contrary1]

41. There was an incident in a suburb just north of Indianapolis last year...

The news referred to them as "coydogs".

Anyway, a woman left to go to the store, and when she returned, she found two of her dogs dead in the kitchen.
The coydogs or coyotes had scaled an 8 foot privacy fence, entered the house via a pet door, and mauled her two smaller breeds. Two pits were found safe and sound in another area of the house.

Just a warning for those out there with these pet doors, where coyotes have been seen. Try to find a way to secure the door before you leave.

[truebluegreen]

42. Couple of things happened:

First we killed off the wolves, who formerly kept their lesser cousins in check. When wolves were re-introduced to Yellowstone in the 90s, the first thing that happened was the coyote population plummeted; many other things happened as well but that's another story.

Second thing that happened, when the coyote population exploded, the ranchers went after them next....and to their dismay they discovered that coyotes actually breed more, and have larger litters, when their population is under pressure. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/coyotes/tips/against_killing_coyotes.html

So now we have way more coyotes than we've ever had. This is called "wildlife management."

Finally, speaking as an observer with several generations background, imo the coyotes of today are larger and more aggressive than in the past...they are filling the niche vacated by the wolves with one major difference: wolves are shy and rarely seen, coyotes are bold as brass and more opportunistic. Adults are, generally speaking, out of their weight class, but I am very wary of coyotes....

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

43. They aren't the only dogs in town. There are foxes in Boston.

[CTyankee]

46. Boston! Oh fer gawd's sake...

[tymorial]

51. Turkeys too!

I remember one day heading back to my car from work. I was working in Dorchester at the time. So I go to my car and right in the parking lot were 4 turkeys just walking around. I called animal control and they told me that turkeys are now considered part of the natural wildlife of Boston. This is what happens when we destroy natural habitat

[CTyankee]

52. we have some here, too. It's strange but kind of wonderful. They seem to like thier

place right near the parkway, which I find strange but it is what it is...

[tymorial]

48. There have been coyotes throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts since the 1950s.

They are well established to the point that they are considered part of the ecosystem. They are opportunistic so they will eat whatever is readily available and easy. Because you are in an urban setting, their diet is probably road kill and small rodents. They will also hunt dogs and cats and more than a few house pets have fallen pray to coyotes. Quite honestly, there are coyotes in every state in the US. You may not see them but trust me, they're out there.

[CTyankee]

50. well, good to know. Live and let live is fine with me. No pets and no kids, I'm good.

[Rex]

49. Because they live everywhere including urban environments.

You are not supposed to see them. They are real good at hiding.

[CTyankee]

55. But I LOVE Wiley Coyote! He's my fave!

[Habibi]

53. Does your area have a feral cat problem?

I would think that would also attract bigger predators such as coyotes.

[CTyankee]

57. no, we don't.

[cwydro]

54. There are coyotes most everywhere.

They're in the city where I live, but they also roam out in the country on my farm.

They won't hurt you.

[Arugula Latte]

56. They are all over many urban areas. We have them ...

I've seen them in our backyard, and we live in the city limits of Portland, Oregon.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

58. When I lived in N.W. Calgary there was a coyote who would peep in my bedroom window

They're everywhere in Southern Alberta. Some are vicious predators who eat cats and dogs, some are basically canine racoons who dump garbage.

[CTyankee]

60. We never had our garbage dumped. Pretty quiet here...

[TeddyR]

59. Didn't read all the responses

But we had a number of them in our Atlanta suburb when we lived there. A few folks lost cats to them. Also have them in Arlington just outside D.C. where we now live. The only concern we ever had with coyotes was when we lived in central California, and we made sure to keep our dogs close, although mountain lions worried me more there than coyotes.

[Sam_Fields]

63. According to Warner Bros.

To defeat a coyote you need to put out a road runner.

[PoliticAverse]

65. Coyote's have been found wandering around New York City. n/t

[hobbit709]

66. coyotes are smart, adaptable and one of the few animals expanding their range

[CTyankee]

67. I see that now...

[unblock]

70. hey, i'm 30 miles away from you and we have a bear roaming around here....

[CTyankee]

71. wow, you must be in some rural place...I can't imagine a bear venturing into a

heavily urbanized area like New Haven...but CT is like that...some really lovely areas that are not all that populated...

[unblock]

88. yup, that's what's great -- living in the woods but so close to civilization.

but then there's the ticks and other woodsy animals, including the occasional bear.

on the other hand, it's lovely to see a family of deer or turkeys take a stroll through your yard!

[cemaphonic]

91. A few years back, a bear made it fairly deep into Seattle

I think it was caught near the University, which is a pretty densely populated part of the city.

[CentralMass]

72. i belîeve Ma changed its trapping laws a few years back and hat it caused an uptick in te coyote

Population. While I find my self in Oregon now my family and I saw a coyote one Sunday morning a few years ago and we as well as any of the neighbors have all lot cats to them.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

76. We have a couple running around here

[ileus]

77. Overpopulation...lots of easy cats and dogs to eat...

[Cleita]

78. Are you kidding? Coyotes like our garbage, our chickens and our pets.

They are the most adaptable of predators and have no problem becoming urbanized as we take up their habitat. I have seen them trotting along the street late at night which is their hunting time. The fact that you have a golf course around there means not only do you have coyotes, but probably a lot of nice rabbits, ducks and other tasty birds that coyotes like. Your garbage is also a taste treat. You also probably have foxes too but they are more reclusive but attracted to the same game that might take up residence on a golf course.

[seveneyes]

81. Lack of predators

The top of the food chain is only as good as its defense.

[virgogal]

83. Boston suburb here. Been seeing them for about 10 years.

[Liberal_in_LA]

87. they run around LA at dusk.. they come out of the hills

[rainbobryte]

89. Where's the Road Runner when you need him? Meep,meep!!! :)

[romanic]

92. I've seen many coyotes down in Detroit.

Have friend who lives near the Old city airport where there are more empty houses than people (and in that part of town there aren't that many houses tanding). He sees all kinds of coyotes or dog-hybrids walking in packs once in a while, along with racoons, posseums and even a wild turkey here and there. I'm sure there are other cities that have blocks of urban decay/blight/acres of vacant land filled with coyotes. Saw one myself the last time I was down there, looked like a scraggly dob until he bolted across the street when I pulled up in my car.

[pipoman]

94. An old indian friend told me how to keep them away from my house...

Shoot one, cut its body cavity open, then pee on the carcass and leave it on the property line...I do this one or two times per year and haven't had any problems with them since...before we lost countless cats, most of our wild animals like quail, pheasants, rabbits, squirrels, etc. and 3 flocks of chickens..

[Recursion]

95. Many US cities have more coyotes living in them than dogs

LA and DC both do. They tend to live quite comfortably in sewers and large parks.