What to Do if a Coyote Camps Near Your House

SOLON, OH - Northeast Ohioans have a long and strange relationship with coyotes. During peak deer season, we value the animals. At most other times of the year, they're a nuisance and a threat to our home's dog and cats. To help residents deal with the creatures, Solon Police Chief Paul Viland and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources sent a memo to the Safety & Public Properties Committee detailing how to handle coyotes.

"The majority of coyote complaints in Solon are simply people who see one and have a panic reaction," Viland says in the memo. "There have been very few coyote/pet encounters over the last decade, and we handle most complaints by simply educating the party."

First, coyotes are scared of humans. They have no great desire to interact with you or yours, so making a loud noise at the animals will usually scare them off. Try clapping or shouting and they'll usually bolt.

While coyotes might be scared of you, they're likely not afraid of your pets. If you have an outdoor cat or a dog that roams your yard, you'll want to keep an eye on them. Your pet, in defending what it views as its territory, may attack a roving coyote. Viland says that you should not let your pet outside unattended.

Additionally, coyotes will scavenge for food. Leaving garbage out could create an unintentional reason for the animals to frequent your home. Try to keep all stray food bagged up and inside a trash can. Otherwise you may be asking coyotes to pay your home a visit.

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