Coyotes More Active Now In Denver and Front Range

BROOMFIELD, CO -- Hazing at fraternities = BAD. Hazing coyotes = GOOD. So says the Denver Metro Coyote Behavior Study group, which is teaching humans how to interact with urban coyotes in Denver and the Front Range. Broomfield Open Space sent a warning in early October that coyotes are very active this time of year.

Coyotes are also moving into the ecological niche once held by red foxes, after an outbreak of Sarcoptic Mange killed many foxes along the Front Range in the past couple of years.

Coyotes emboldened in the late fall and early winter can go after unaccompanied pets, or attack humans, although direct attacks on people are rare. That's because they're selecting mates and establishing their territories where they'll raise pups in the spring, according to Broomfield Open Space. Some coyote behavior that you may see includes "escorting," where a coyote will trot along near people or dogs as they cross the coyote's territory.

At that point, hazing is appropriate, the coyote experts say. The idea is to make coyotes feel uncomfortable among humans.

Low-intensity hazing, intended to scare away coyotes, includes:

• banging pots,
• shining bright lights,
• shouting,
• throwing small rocks or sticks,
• spraying garden hoses,
• spraying pepper spray,
• carrying a ski pole or golf club,
• using whistles or other noisemakers,
• practicing the S.M.A.R.T. actions noted below.

Be S.M.A.R.T.!
Stop! Do not run! If you run, the coyote may chase.
Make yourself look big! Put your hands over your head or pull your jacket up over your head. Look as big as you can to the coyote knows that you too tough to mess with.
Announce forcefully, "Leave Me Alone"! Repeat if necessary. This lets the coyote know you are a person, and it lets people around you know that you may be in trouble.
Retreat! Back away slowly, but don't turn your back on the coyote.
Teach your friends and neighbors about coyotes and report coyote encounters to an adult if you're a child.

Running, hiding or even trying to make friends with the animal is not hazing. Any time a coyote engages you, approaches you or is seen in a place where it doesn't belong, is the time when you should haze. Never haze an animal that is cornered, inured or seen with pups.

Adams Co. Open Space created this video to help spread the word about hazing coyotes:

Image via Pixabay