Residents Warned to Beware Coyotes

LANGHORNE, Pa. -- Just as Bucks County, Pa., residents recall the sad event, Pennsylvania Game Commission authorities remember the death of a pet dog in a Langhorne backyard by a coyote two years ago and warn it could occur again this year – if residents aren’t careful.

“Reports of dead pets are commonplace on the local news, and the general threat of coming face-to-face with this predator is not to be underestimated,” said Dustin Stoner of the Game Commission. “Even if they only destroy your garden, the incentive to protect your property remains.”

It was in January 2022 when area residents spotted a coyote roaming their backyard, and in February of that year the dog’s death was reported and believed to be the fault of a coyote. Not necessarily a surprise, said Stoner, because this is the time of year when coyotes are active and looking for food.

“You could see them out during the daytime hunting or see them out crossing the road in the evening,” he said. ”Coyotes exist pretty much in every square mile of Pennsylvania.”

There are steps to avoid the coyote threat.

“Fortunately, you’re not helpless,” said Stoner. “You have a number of choices to make sure they don’t bother your family or pets in the future.”

Four ways to determine if coyotes are crossing your property.

1 – Noises at night (and sometimes during the day).

Coyotes are noisy, according to the Game Commission, and howl in groups to let other groups know their territory is occupied. If howling is continuously heard nearby, “your property is probably part of a coyote territory,” it said. In that case, other noises can be heard from barks to small, dog-like whines. “But it’s the howl that tends to stand out,” said the Game Commission. “For reasons unknown, it occurs especially often in response to fire sirens.”

2 – The scats (a nice word for feces).

When coyotes cross the property, “they tend to leave behind gifts that are less than pleasant,” according to the Game Commission. Unlike dog scat, which is soft from store-bought food, a coyote’s is typically filled with the hair and bones of their food. “Coyotes use their scats to communicate territory boundaries,” the Commission said, “so one discovery likely means that more are on the way.”

3 – The tracks (similar, but not identical to a dog’s tracks).

It can be difficult to distinguish a coyote’s tracks over a dog’s, the Commissions said, but there are a few tips to help. A coyote’s strides are longer than a dog’s; coyotes travel more in a straight line with a specific goal in mind rather than just checking out the property, and on the front paws coyotes have claws.

4 – Dead animals (their food, not friends).

Coyotes tends to be hungry and desperate for food especially in urban areas. Rat and rabbit carcasses might be left behind on property, the Commission said, and domestic goats and sheep “also tend to be easy prey.” Frequency is a key hint: one dead rabbit might not mean much, but a number of occurrences over time are more likely to point to a coyote presence.

Tips for protection, according to the Game Commission: secure the yard, secure trash. and don’t leave pets and their food outside unsupervised.

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It's that time of year again for coyotes in the backyard.Photo bymana5280onUnsplash