[JesseL]

I've got a bit of a coyote problem I'm wondering how to deal with.

Coyotes have been hanging around my (wooded suburban) yard for the past few months and getting very bold. We're seeing them regularly, in broad daylight, within 20 feet of the house. They don't seem particularly concerned about humans and if yelled at or approached, just casually trot away.

The other day one took a $*@& on my doorstep :fire:. People I know in the area have had their leashed dogs attacked by coyotes while walking, and a few weeks ago I saw two of them stalking one of my neighbors with his small dogs :what:. My wife is concerned about playing outside with our 18 month old son.

If I was outside the city limits (one side of my property is the city line) and a little further from my neighbors, I'd know exactly what to do :evil:.

So how would you encourage these 'yotes to be a little less comfortable and more wary?

[ArcherandShooter]

Would an air-powered pellet gun be allowed where you live? There's some on the market these days that'll put a real hurt on something the size of a coyote.

[JesseL]

I've got a Crosman 1077 around here somewhere. Is a pellet gun likely to cause a festering wound though? If I'm not going to flat-out kill 'em, I'd prefer not to injure them.

[ARGarrison]

Depends on local laws inside city limits and what you can do. Number of things you might try. Paintball gun, firecrakers, thrown baseaball, airhorn, airgun to the rear. You need to train them to be afraid of you.

[308win]

At the close ranges you stated, subsonic .22's would do the trick with accurate shot placement and I wouldn't expect over penetration to be an issue.

[GunTech]

Want to discourage them? Have you tried putting on the financial news? ;)

Coyotes are usually so skittish it doesn't take much to run them off. Sometimes it is a simple as 'Boundary' for dogs from your local pet store. Or try mountain lion urine.

CB caps or a powerful airgun will send a message as well.

[Art Eatman]

If you see a coyote in your yard, ease the door open as quietly as possible and launch out into the yard, yelling and screaming at the top of your lungs.

If that doesn't work, move. You have more problems than you could ever legally deal with.

:D:D:D

Art

[Nicky Santoro]

OP,
I've tagged several non-native predators (cats) with very light flat faced .177 pellets. I still see them in the area, so they were "trained" but not injured. They give me and my yard a wide berth.
FWIW
YMMV

[TexasBen317]

just an off the wall idea,, Paint Ball gun?

[JesseL]

Unfortunately things like 22 shorts and CB caps aren't an option. They still qualify as a firearm and if a busybody neighbor made a fuss, I'd be looking at a felony. :uhoh:

If you see a coyote in your yard, ease the door open as quietly as possible and launch out into the yard, yelling and screaming at the top of your lungs.

If that doesn't work, move. You have more problems than you could ever legally deal with.

I'll give that one a try :D. Seriously though, considering that it seems to take quite a bit a yelling and kicking to get a coyote off of a dog, it might not be that easy.

OP,
I've tagged several non-native predators (cats) with very light flat faced .177 pellets. I still see them in the area, so they were "trained" but not injured. They give me and my yard a wide berth.
FWIW
YMMV

Good to know, thanks.

It looks like I'll be keeping the pellet gun handy.

[skinewmexico]

Paintball gun. The coyotes in my yard left as soon as they finished the last of the feral cats my idiot neighbor kept. I am trying to convince my wife I need a supressor, and a 300 Whisper barrel to put on my Savage.

[rooter]

Mix a can of chicken with some antifreeze, it takes care of trespassing cats/dogs/coyotes permanently.

[El Tejon]

Trap one, cut off its head and spike it in the tree line. The coyotes will leave you alone then.

Works for raccoons too.

[Harvster]

How's animal control in your area? Some places will trap or shoot problem critters. Also, if it were on your property you may be able to shoot it (if you feel its safe). Most times I think the discharge within city limits would be waived for a defensive situation like the animal stalking a kid or dog.

[John4me05]

Could always get a bow...

[eliphalet]

Buy a powerful and quiet as you can find pellet gun, shoot em in the guts, they will go off and die someplace else. If you get caught it is not a firearm just a BB gun. Soon they will for the most part learn to avoid your place as coyotes are a smart critter.

[Car Knocker]

If you get caught it is not a firearm just a BB gun.
In some localities, a pellet/BB gun is classified as a firearm.

[plexreticle]

[quote]Mix a can of chicken with some antifreeze, it takes care of trespassing cats/dogs/coyotes permanently.

Oh there's a great plan. Indiscriminately kill animals.

Better yet get some arsenic put it in some bird seed and let the food chain take care of the rest.

[jeepmor]

A good wrist rocket should get the point across. That would sting at 20-30 feet something fierce.

[AirplaneDoc]

you have to use the antifreeze with ethelyne glycol. (the old green kind) I hear the new stuff does not work. Ibuprofen works for dogs, but not cats. I would think a coyote would be similar.

Live traps work to. you can always shoot them later.

Animal Control tells me that coyotes go for small wild animals then cats then dogs. If they are going after dogs, they will continue to esclalate, on up the food chain

[OMGWTFBBQ]

A paint ball gun, wrist rocket(can cause injuries), or airsoft gun that will fire .3g bbs at >350fps(Like this (http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/model.pl?model_id=1570)) will give them a hint not to come around if they don't want to get stung in the butt, but will not cause any injury worse than a welt at >10yards(the wrist rocket WILL, but if you pull back less it won't). The wrist rocket is, of course, by far the cheapest of the three.

If you're out for blood, I'd suggest a bow or cross bow, a powerful break barrel would also do the job with a well placed shot. If you go for the latter, I would say a .22 caliber with a muzzle velocity of >1000fps would be about the lowest power to consider. This (http://www.pyramydair.com/cgi-bin/model.pl?model_id=1491) in either cal would seem to be a pretty suitable air gun.

Edited it add: NEVER use poison. Someone's pet may eat it, and besides that, it's inhumane. No animal deserves to suffer like that, one of my worst childhood memories was when I was over at my cousin's house and his dog got into some poisoned bait his neighbor left out to get rid of the squirrels. They ended up putting her down after about 10 minutes of some of the most pitiful suffering I've ever witnessed.

[springmom]

For the love of Pete. Do NOT bait with poison. You do NOT have any control over what will eat that poison. Maybe your next door neighbor's dog gets out and eats it. Maybe YOUR dog gets out and eats it. This is about as Low Road a suggestion as I've ever seen. Get a pellet gun, get a paint ball gun, get a trap. But do NOT use ethylene glycol. Ever.

Springmom

[rooter]

Lets not get into an ethical debate about poisoning a pest whether it be feral or domesticated. If someone is worried about their pet being poisoned, simply keep it off my property, problem solved. Nothing high or low road about it, just an effective way of dealing with it.

[Sunray]

Remove the food source and cover. ARGarrison makes a good point too. Rocks, sticks, baseballs, etc will teach Wiley that your place is to be avoided.
Using poison of any kind is illegal in most places. Never mind the neighbour's pets, kids tend to put anything and everything into themselves.

[plexreticle]

Lets not get into an ethical debate about poisoning a pest whether it be feral or domesticated. If someone is worried about their pet being poisoned, simply keep it off my property, problem solved. Nothing high or low road about it, just an effective way of dealing with it.

It's irresponsible and illegal in many places.

I think there should be an ethical debate in this thread about indiscriminately poisoning animals. If you don't want a debate then don't defend it.

[bensdad]

Alrighty then...
Check the local regs about poisoning. The OP wanted suggestions about dealing with yotes. Poison is one way of dealing with yotes. In some places it's legal. I would imagine it's pretty effective.

You might have to purchase a comercial poison though. I'd be surprised if you can just put out a dish of anti-freeze next to a t-bone.

[rooter]

I think there should be an ethical debate in this thread about indiscriminately poisoning animals

Plexreticle, do you have something useful to add to this thread? The original post asked for a solution to a problem. Neither of your posts had anything to do with the question at hand. If you want to debate ethics, perhaps you should start a new thread.

[Hook686]

Hmmmmmm This is the High Road ... some suggestions just might be viewed by some as the Low Road .... Why do you have a problem with people expressing their thoughts and ideas ?

I've never seen a coyote trapped except with a foot trap. However, if the buggers are getting so bold and social, a good sized trap with bait might work. I would think Animal Control would have some ideas ... what have they suggested ?

[koja48]

I'd try an airsoft gun, if such is legal in your area.

[Art Eatman]

Poisons and leg-hold traps are addressed "To whom it may concern" and you can easily windup becoming the Neighborhood Pariah. All sorts of paybacks if somebody's cat or dog suffers. File those in "Really Bad Ideas".

Live traps are said to not be effective for coyotes. Apparently they don't like any sort of entry into a confined area. I don't personally know.

If yelling doesn't work, and thelaw won't let you shoot, go bug the city council. "What are you going to do about this invasion of coyotes that's killing our pets? Why don't you care about our pets? What do you have against pets and little children?"

[plexreticle]

Plexreticle, do you have something useful to add to this thread? The original post asked for a solution to a problem. Neither of your posts had anything to do with the question at hand. If you want to debate ethics, perhaps you should start a new thread.

rooter, I did ad something useful . I pointed out your idea of indiscriminate killing of animals by using homemade poisonous concoctions is a bad idea.

[Funderb]

they make game deterrent shotgun shells that are legal.
they shoot out a small projectile with a report. mostly used on bears.
can shoot them out of a flare gun.

[dagger dog]

Can you shoot bow and arrow? 20 feet is getting into bow country. A ordinary run of the mill compound is available for less than 200$ sights included, a week at the butts and you're good to go. Use broaheads,get one in the boiler room , they,re dead, watch the backstop the arrow will pass through. As bold as you claim it should be easy for the first couple but then they'll wise up!

[Ridgerunner665]

This may not be an option for you but IT WILL WORK... get a pet miniature donkey...donkeys and mules will kill canines on sight...I know, I have 2 donkeys, 1 mule and 6 horses...the mule has killed about 20 coyotes in the past 7 years, then donkeys only have 4 (they can't run as fast)...the horses just panic and run away.

[Pilot]

If yelling doesn't work, and thelaw won't let you shoot, go bug the city council. "What are you going to do about this invasion of coyotes that's killing our pets? Why don't you care about our pets? What do you have against pets and little children?"

I live in a pretty densely poplated suburban area with a large easement behind our house that is a hiking/biking trail. There are coyotes back there and nobody is going to do anything about it. They are not a menace, however, people know better to let their cats roam as they get eaten pretty quickly.

[Steve H]

If yelling doesn't work, and thelaw won't let you shoot, go bug the city council. "What are you going to do about this invasion of coyotes that's killing our pets? Why don't you care about our pets? What do you have against pets and little children?"



I agree with the above BUT if they (the city) will not help with the problem I'd get some range time in with a crossbow.

[41magsnub]

I have run off problem critters before with a bow and arrow with the rubber boot over the arrow. Never hit coyote, but it worked on deer.

[99sparks]

At the time I did not have a pet so if you have pets this may not work. This may not work on coyotes. But then again it might.

Once upon a time a long, long, time ago I had neighbors that had two very large dogs. When they let the dogs out they would run to my yard and leave very large deposits. I went to a pet store and got some dog and cat repellent. I got twice what I needed. I mixed the dog and cat repellent with fertilizer and then fertilized my yard. I only used the dog and cat repellent on the problem side of my lawn.

I happened to be on my deck when the neighbors let the dogs out. The dogs were out about the same time every day after work and I got home before they did so I had the opportunity to watch. The dogs ran to my yard got about three steps in and came to a screeching halt. Looked at there feet and backed out of my yard. My “deposit” problem stopped.

They never came back in my yard. If it works on coyotes you are in luck. If not you spent less than a box of ammo.

[Funderb]

put a primer on the end of an arrow.
when the primer hits something is goes BANG
and you never actually have to hit anything.

[TAB]

Take some table scarps( fat trimings would be perfect.) soak them in the hotest hot suace you can find, when you see them, feed them that... they should get the message.

[coyotehitman]

Better yet get some arsenic put it in some bird seed and let the food chain take care of the rest.

Hmmmmmm This is the High Road ... some suggestions just might be viewed by some as the Low Road ....

Good point there.


If you don't want a debate then don't defend it.


Why do you have a problem with people expressing their thoughts and ideas ?

Good question.

Not taking sides here, just an all too common observation...
New guy makes a suggestion or chimes in.
Senior guy takes it personal and goes on a tangent.
New guy is somehow wrong?
Interesting.
Anyway, sticking to the topic.

Some creative methods mentioned here. How is the trajectory on those rubber booted arrows?

Several cities around here have ordinances that prohibit discharging a firearm, prohibit shooting a BB gun, prohibit any type of hunting, slingshots I am unsure about, but my guess is no. Doesn't leave many options. You would be hard pressed to trap a coyote unless you found a stupid one or were a professional trapper. I coyote hunt extensively and they are sly, cunning survivors.

Maybe, in your situation, with your restrictions, call a professional trapper or install a chain link or electric fence???

Most problems like these can also be solved with an appropriately placed charge of C4...Just kidding.

[springmom]

Not taking sides here, just an all too common observation...
New guy makes a suggestion or chimes in.
Senior guy takes it personal and goes on a tangent.
New guy is somehow wrong?

Irrelevant. As Art said, "to whom it may concern" solutions are indeed Really Bad Ideas. You live on a ranch, you have options. You live in a neighborhood, you need to come up with solutions that will not kill other people's pets. Or your own. I doubt anyone who owns a dog can categorically say that no dog of theirs has EVER gotten out when it wasn't supposed to.

Ethylene glycol is a horrible way for an animal to die. Most of us are concerned with the humane taking of animals....that's why we spend a lot of time discussing what round is optimal for certain animals. We don't WANT an animal to crawl away and die in agony. I guarantee you, that is exactly what happens to an animal that ingests ethylene glycol.

This has nothing to do with new guy/old guy (or old gal). It has to do with taking care of the problem without unintended or unwelcome consequences.

Springmom

[coyotehitman]

I suggest you reread the posts. Rooter offers a suggestion. Plexreticle makes a sarcastic remark in response. Rooter says he/she doesn't want to start an ethical debate. Plexreticle responds sarcastically. Rooter suggests he/she start a new thread if he wants a debate. Someone chimes in implying Rooter is being Low Road. The comments directed at Rooter were better directed at Plexreticle IMO. I suspect I know why they were not though. As Mr. Gump said, "That's all I have to say about that."

I do not advocate using posion, but I do not care if someone else suggests using it. As far as I am concerned, the point has been made that some do not like the idea of using it, while some do. Enough said.

Take some table scarps( fat trimings would be perfect.) soak them in the hotest hot suace you can find, when you see them, feed them that... they should get the message.

I am not sure this would work with a coyote. Surely, they would smell the hot sauce, take a lick, and decide whether the risk was worth the reward. Best I can describe a coyote is--take the smartest dog you know of, double its intellect, and you have almost reached the level of the dumbest coyote. They have been outsmarting me for years and they never seem to amaze me. The only time I have seen them make dumb mistakes is when they are starving or sick.

I hunt and kill alot of coyotes. I had one in particular that was eating a man's chickens, had killed a calf, and chased his beagle. I couldn't get that coyote to come in while I was within 300 yards of the farm. Ultimatley, I hunted over a live chicken. Wiley came in just after dark and took a one to the boiler room. No more problems after Wiley was gone. These coyotes are a problem pretty much everywhere in the US and I only see it getting worse.

[JesseL]

Well; yesterday I picked up some paintballs for the old paintball marker, and a fresh band for the wristrocket.

We'll see how it goes.

[coyotehitman]

Chill your paintballs or freeze them and they'll be like a huge BB.

[Eyesac]

I say call your local officals, and get a cheap airsoft pistol.

[auschip]

Chill your paintballs or freeze them and they'll be like a huge BB.

Paintballs don't freeze. Depending on the brand, attempting to freeze a paintball will at best make the shell out of round. At worst, they become more brittle and break in the gun. A paintball flying at 280-300FPS will have enough force to discourage most coyotes. Your neighbors will most likely still cause trouble if they see you doing this.

I use an airsoft gun for a pest deterent. I'm lucky to have a good one, but a cheap one from Academy or similar will do the trick.

[ArmedBear]

I've always wanted an excuse to buy one of these. But I've never had one. You do.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp?id=cat20024&navAction=jump&navCount=1&cmCat=MainCatcat21424&parentType=category&parentId=cat21424

BTW some cities that don't allow shooting do allow for the use of firearms to eliminate pests, either with a permit or sometimes even without one. Others don't even allow BB guns. I don't know about Prescott's laws.

If you can use a pellet gun, Gamo now makes a suppressed 1200 fps air rifle, something else I'd love an excuse to buy.

http://www.gamousa.com/Catalog.aspx?Family=71

As far as indiscriminately poisoning animals, that's just wrong, for any number of reasons. You want to eliminate specific pests, not kill a lot of nearby pets and wildlife.

[rooter]

Paintballs don't freeze. Depending on the brand, attempting to freeze a paintball will at best make the shell out of round. At worst, they become more brittle and break in the gun.

I wondered about this. Can you not shoot paintballs in winter then?
If they do freeze or congeal, seems like they would be off balance cause the material would accumulate to one side or the other.

[auschip]

I wondered about this. Can you not shoot paintballs in winter then?
If they do freeze or congeal, seems like they would be off balance cause the material would accumulate to one side or the other.

You can play in the winter, and either lower your velocity to be easier on the ball or just live with the breaks. They did make an alternate shell that was a little thicker called Polar Ball. I haven't played in awhile so I don't know if it or something similar is still available.

[G17Steve]

Subsonic .22 fired from inside your home out an open window, very quite I have done this to keep things from alerting neighbors with ALOT of sucess.To kill a coyote you will need a bullseye shot though.

[ArmedBear]

Be careful!

BATFE might seize your living room, since you were using it as a silencer.:D

[mlw332]

try a paintball gun. put the paintballs in the freezer for at least 24 hours will hit hard but cause no more than pain.

[marksman13]

Indiscriminate poisoning is often illegal and always a bad idea. Be specific. Target the problem animals and don't kill your neighbor's dog in the process. I can tell you now, if you set out poison and killed my dog in the process, you would get a very loud, unfriendly knock at the door.

A .22 cal. air rifle may be your best option if it's legal. There's been alot of yodel dogs killed with a 22LR and a shot in the ear hole.

[BUTCHER45]

For a non-lethal alternative I suggest you get a wrist rocket and form yourself a rock made out of salt.

The "1200fps" (air rifles that advertise like that usually need the lightest pellet possible to acheive the advertised velocity and aren't to accurate with them) air rifle's will penetrate the animal and just wound it.

As far as air rifles are concerned (if they are legal within the city limits) you will want to use something that is far from cheap in .25 or larger, and shoot it in the head, which is pretty risky.

Or you could spend about $550 on a 9mm or a .45 and shoot it in the boiler room with roundball and a GOOD backstop to keep the slug from going off into the next county.

I think the wrist-rocket with rock salt is the way to go in town.

[Guillermo]

Just take safe shots (99% or better hit probablility and downward towards soft ground) and play dumb with the cops if they are called.

[bensdad]

Marksman13 writes:
Indiscriminate poisoning is often illegal

And from Plexriticle we get:
Oh there's a great plan. Indiscriminately kill animals.

I don't have a strong feeling about it one way or another. As I posted before, the OP asked for help with yotes. Poison kills them. It's legal in some places. I wouldn't use it myself, but others have - and do.

I would add that there's nothing "indiscriminate" about poisoning these varmints. The poison would be on his/her own property. It would very specifically poison only trespassing animals.

Marksman13 again:
I can tell you now, if you set out poison and killed my dog in the process, you would get a very loud, unfriendly knock at the door.

I can tell YOU now, that if your dog were in my yard, you would get the very loud knock first. You'd only get one chance to keep it off my property. I have kids that have a right to play in their own yard. I have my own dog. I clean up my dog's poop - not your dog's poop.

Before we start chest-thumping, we need to think about what we're implying. Does your love for your pet, or for wild yotes, trump U.S. property rights?

[marksman13]

Bensdad, let's both be reasonable about this. Can you honestly say, that you have never had a dog that didn't end up somewhere it didn't belong before? Now let's just say that you set out your poisoned dog food, table scraps, what have you, for coyotes, and my dog, who is always kept in my yard or on a leash gets out and finds his way into your yard. Keep in mind this isn't a recurring theme, it's a one time deal, and it wasn't my dog that caused you to put out the poison in the first place. It was the coyotes. Now let's say before I can catch my lab he gets into your yard and promptly devours the bait. It's what dogs do. Now, because of one mistake, I've lost a good dog and my wife is heart broken. How can that possibly sound like a reasonable situation?

The fact is, poison is alot like an anti-personel mine. You have no control over what it kills. Could be a coyote, could be a possum, could be my dog, you just have no way to know. Seems like an awfully bad idea from that perspective.

Now before you get all bent out of shape, let's get a few things straight. I don't have a problem with you telling me that my dog has created a problem. If I don't take steps to remedy the problem, I don't have a problem with you letting me know that I am failing. If my dog becomes a danger to your kids, then by all means put a bullet in him, but do it right. There's no need for an animal to suffer. There are much more humane methods.

We raised cattle when I was a kid, and if a neighbor's dog got caught chasing cattle, said neighbor got one warning. Like wise with us, we got one warning about our dogs. After that, the dog got a bullet. It was that simple, and after we shot a dog, we called the neighbor to let them know. It's called responsibilty. It ain't easy, and poison doesn't have any, but it is the right way to go about things. So, as legal as poison may be in some jurisdictions, it's not necessarilly the right way to go about things.

You're entitled to your opinion. I won't argue the legalities of poisoning. I don't know the OP's laws. Just seems like, as a society, we would be better off if we could put ourselves into somebody else's shoes occasionally. Sounds like poisoning is the perfect solution until you stop consider how many other animals you might kill without ever being the wiser.

[brighamr]

It's this exact type of thread that makes me not want to offer valid suggestions in online forums.

the OP asked a question.

Several people gave their valid suggestions.

Now because a few people have different views, the previously mentioned valid suggestions need to be hashed out for multiple pages.


Poison - it works. Discretion\legality is up to the person who uses/abuses it.

22's - they work. Again, discretion\legality is up to the person who uses/abuses it.

Traps - they work. Again, discretion\legality is up to the person who uses/abuses it.

Paintballs - they work. Again, discretion\legality is up to the person who uses/abuses it.


Sometimes people need to realize that when someone asks for help, people respond. I don't think it was the OP's intent to have several people argue over which means to an end.

Period.

[Tully M. Pick]

I don't have a strong feeling about it one way or another. As I posted before, the OP asked for help with yotes. Poison kills them. It's legal in some places. I wouldn't use it myself, but others have - and do.

I wouldn't bother attempting that. You'll get a lot of opinionated arguments without much substance. Best to nod politely and go about your business.

Besides, it's for the children...and the pets.

[bensdad]

Marksman,
You are absolutely right. My dogs have gotten out far more often than others' dogs have come over to visit. I'm grateful to all those who have let them return in peace.

When the neighbor's dogs do come over, I just make a call or bring the dog home myself. I'm not a jerk (usually). I was just trying to make a point. The word "indiscriminate" does not really apply.

Here's the dark side of my perspective:
Two years ago my wife let our shorthair out in the morning and left for work before putting him back in. I found him on the front steps in the middle of a full-blown, all-out seizure. His eyes were crossed, He was cold with sweat, he was shaking so violently that he couldn't stand up. By 5:00pm or so, the vet had tried everything to bring him out of it. Nothing worked. They put him down.

I'm relatively cerain he was poisoned. The fact is, however, he left our yard to get poisoned. I harbor no ill will toward whoever did it.

Like I said, I would never use poison on critters. But I also believe in property rights.

I was just playing devil's advocate. If your dog ever finds his way over to my house, it'll get a treat and a ride home.

P.S. Does your dog bite?

[marksman13]

No, Bensdad, neither of our dogs has ever bitten anybody. Though I would understand if someone with small kids didn't want either of them in a yard with his small children.

I think we would all do well to look at the OP's unique situations when responding to threads like these. JesseL made it quite clear that he lives in a neighborhood. This fact increases the likelihood that animals other than the nuisance animals could come in contact with a poisoned bait, not to mention the possibility of a lawsuit if someone's child got into the stuff. Though I have no use for it at all, poison may have it's merritts in the wide open country, but not in a neighborhood.

For that reason, Brighamr, I think my post and the others like it are quite relevant to the topic at hand. I was making that statement not only because of my opinion, because of JesseL's situation. I should have stated that more clearly in my first post, also if I seemed condescending in the delivery of my opinion I apologize.

Based on JesseL's situation and the feelings he expressed regarding his disdain for the suffering of animals in post #3 of this thread, I don't think poison is the best route for him to take. Methods such as paintball guns, slingshots and possibly crossbows sound like the best match. Just my .02 cents. It's worth what you paid for it.

[springmom]

Well done, bensdad and marksman13. It's great to see differences worked out with respect.

One addendum: in researching what to do with the predator on our land (we're still not sure what it is, besides efficient) I researched what Texas Parks and Wildlife had to say about predator control. They recommend that a professional be contracted if poisoning is used, even on ranch land.

In a neighborhood, the OP's eventual solution (paintballs and a wrist rocket) is a great one. Targets the problem without causing unintended consequences.

Springmom

[kmrcstintn]

slingshot; bear repellent pepper spray; loud sports air horn; plead with your neighborhood dog owners to not put table scraps into their yards for their own animals to eat since they are making wildlife dependent upon an easily obtainable food source; contact your local animal control officers & local law enforcement officers and see what is legal/recommended; another idea could be a high pressure car washing attachment for your garden hose...kinda like water cannons to disburse protestors/rioters; if you have the option (local ordinances/home owners' associations, financial means) then you might want to fence in your yard and have the bottom edge of the fencing dug into the ground to deter them slipping under the edge

[ArmedBear]

You are absolutely right. My dogs have gotten out far more often than others' dogs have come over to visit. I'm grateful to all those who have let them return in peace.

When the neighbor's dogs do come over, I just make a call or bring the dog home myself. I'm not a jerk (usually). I was just trying to make a point.

...or thump your chest?:rolleyes:

http://www.matthewlangley.com/blog/uploaded_images/glass_house-709724.jpg

This much I can tell you from experience. Those who don't consider the real impact of what happens when they do things like set out poison or what impact their actions might have on their neighbors are responsible for the erosion of property rights as well as hunting access.

"US property rights" is a misnomer. Your real rights vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and people who think about their "rights" without being considerate of other people end up destroying those very rights. There's a city near me where you are not allowed to smoke in your own yard, at least under many circumstances. Now tell me, did support for such a law arise because people were being considerate of their neighbors, or because they were thumping their chests about their rights until there was finally enough support for taking them away? Care to guess?

[Wheeler44]

Although the cure may be worse than the illness several folks around here have Anatolian Shepherds a Turkish guard dog. They are big and don't like coyotes or wolves or bears either for that matter. They have been known to kill bear. A fella I know has one and that ol' dog will run off in the woods and kill coyote like it's his favorite thing to do.

[springmom]

ArmedBear: well said. But what's that pic in the middle of your post?

Wheeler44: keep in mind that the OP is in a neighborhood. Guard dogs that can run free are as bad or worse than coyotes in that situation...and will run into some folks' ethyline glycol "solution".

Springmom

[ArmedBear]

ArmedBear: well said. But what's that pic in the middle of your post?

A glass house.:D

[marksman13]

Honestly, the fence solution might be your best, JesseL. I would still get a sling shot or air rifle, but the fence might save you much hassle later.

[dagger dog]

I get it now! People that live in rock houses shouldn't throw glasses right?

[Wheeler44]

Springmom:
Guard dogs that can run free are as bad or worse than coyotes in that situation..
I hear ya...that's why I said the cure might be worse than the illness.

There are electronic dog fences that are affordable and there is also that tedious process called training. I (well, my 15 yr.old son) have a German Shepherd that stays on our small town lot
always (we test her regularly to make sure that we aren't deluding ourselves). It can be done. It's just that some folks don't have the time nor inclination to do so.

All of that aside, if someone (the OP fer instance) wanted to keep coyotes off his property and didn't mind raising a 100 Lb. dog the Anatolian Shepherd is an effective solution. Oh, and they work against other dogs, wolves, bears and in Africa against leopards(I think thats what they were) and will probably be a good first defense against your common garden variety Bad Guy as well. The solution isn't for everyone but it is a solution.

Good luck with your critter problem on the ranch.

Wheeler44

[bensdad]

ArmedBear,

Point taken.

[eliphalet]

Besides my post #16 use a few steel jawed traps. Normally coyotes are very hard to trap. It take practice and skill to do it, but if their bold enough to be in your yard or on the porch there is a good chance you can trap em fairly easy as they have lost all fear of man.
If you catch the neighbors pooch you can let him go home with a sore foot and if he has any brains at all he won't return, but then some dogs are absolute idiots. If it is a yote shoot em between the eyes or use a steel bar with a good hard swing. Either is equally effective and cause instant death if you swing hard enough. One way or another if you work on it you can make the coyote problem less but good chance not completely gone as there is always the new ones coming.
Not coyotes but I sure have thinned vermin that was a problem at night by keeping my dogs in after dark and setting traps. Took a few days but soon my problem was dead. Not the kindest of solutions but I was at my wits end and might work for you too. If I was worried about a 18 month old I would get serious, which sometimes isn't very PC but necessary.
Y'all can argue all you want but the OP has a problem that needs to be fixed at whatever the cost IMHO. Sometimes a fella's just gotta do what needs to be done.

[Blackfork]

I'd airgun them behind the ribs to get penetration. If it bothers you not to kill them outright, just remember, it wouldn't bother THEM....and say the appropriate prayer.

[Bezoar]

well doesnt your city regulations allow you to kill a coyote that is attacking or trying to attack or eat people or pets?
ie, can you shoot a coyote thats trying to eat your baby, or the family poodle?

If you get good crossbow, a 10point for example, get some heavy aluminum bolts, and heavy rubber blunts. Put one right about where the heart/lungs should be. It can do some wonders.

[rooter]

I don't have a strong feeling about it one way or another. As I posted before, the OP asked for help with yotes. Poison kills them. It's legal in some places. I wouldn't use it myself, but others have - and do.

I would add that there's nothing "indiscriminate" about poisoning these varmints. The poison would be on his/her own property. It would very specifically poison only trespassing animals.

Marksman13 again:

Quote:
I can tell you now, if you set out poison and killed my dog in the process, you would get a very loud, unfriendly knock at the door.

I can tell YOU now, that if your dog were in my yard, you would get the very loud knock first. You'd only get one chance to keep it off my property. I have kids that have a right to play in their own yard. I have my own dog. I clean up my dog's poop - not your dog's poop.

Before we start chest-thumping, we need to think about what we're implying. Does your love for your pet, or for wild yotes, trump U.S. property rights?

Thanks. My point exactly. I did not want my post to begin an ethical debate, which, inevitably gets threads closed on this forum.

And in response to the poster who promised a loud and unfriendly visit to the house. I wouldn't recommend a tough guy approach in dealing with any conflict. There are some folks who might make you leave faster than you came.

I know a guy who visited his neighbors trailer in that fashion over some loud music (ongoing problems between the two) and wound up getting shot in the back with a shotgun as he walked away. He lived and the guy went to jail for a few years, but the guy has since been released and my buddy still has medical problems, some lead in his body, and a rather large and deformed looking divot in his back from the incident.

I wonder if he would have gone over and been polite if things would have turned out differently.

[marksman13]

Rooter, show me where I said I would be the one doing the knocking........:D I think Bensdad and I have moved on. We're pretty much on the same page. We've reached Zen if you will.

[Savage Shooter]

this may or may not be an option for you being as you live in an urban area mix fly bait in with ground hamburburger. In my rural area this what my neighbor does when coyotes attack and kill his calves when they are eating the kill he puts the baited hamburger balls in the carcass and around them the coyote won't make is 5 feet not even kiddin you, coons wont even move a foot. fly bait is found a various farm stores it is VERY POSIONOUS use at you're own discretion it is DEADLY.

[Savage Shooter]

Oh I just thought of the perfect thing a crossbow we have one its a cross bow pistol its relativly silent and works good cost about 100 bucks now bout 50 when we got one and after you killed the coyotes you would have something fun to traget practice with.:D

[rooter]

Rooter, show me where I said I would be the one doing the knocking........

Why? Just hoping to save you a divot. Looks just like a 8X8 sinkhole actually. Deep enough that a drunk guy drank beer out of it at a party on a dare. Something you definitely do not want to see before, during, or immediately after a meal:-)

[Beagle-zebub]

As to the paintball idea, a guy once told me that he and his friends shot each other with ones that they had coated in lacquer, and then maybe frozen. Whatever the case, they seemed to indicate that it hurts like the dickens.

[T.R.]

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/rushmoreman/M249SAW.jpg

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c146/rushmoreman/M249SAW223.jpg

Check with your local BATF office first. :rolleyes:
TR

[Dksimon]

A coyote dieing after taking a hit from a cross bow or a typical bow is not exactly going to be quiet. Then after your neighbors call the cops you will have a dead coyote in your backyard with an arrow sticking out of it that you will need to explain.

[BSlacker]

We had the coyote problem here in my HOA awhile back. Animal control here doesn't do wild animals unless they are confined. Like you trap it then they will take it and release it right back in your neighborhood. Good luck with that approach.
Over a couple of years the packs grew untill they reached six yotes. Well the city was not much help and the yotes were coming from city property.
Until one bright sunny day a pack eat Sparky while he was on a walk in the park and he was on the leash with Betty his 94 year old owner. Then the city cleaned up the weeds and cover on the city yard property they were living on and the yotes moved downtown to the city hall area. Cleaned out all the cats, people went nuts, newspaper wrote stories took pictures, big deal.
The University of California at Davis web site has some of the best info on urban yotes out there. I followed the progression just like they laid out.
BTW I have a good video security system and saw most of the area cats in my neighborhood get hauled off. The funny part was the next day the cat owner would put a picture of the cat with its name on the community mail box. So I could put a name to a cat in the video. :evil:
The only way to rid coyotes is to get rid of their food and cover or make them food for a larger animal. They will eat themselves out of house and home and move on if you reduce the food available. That simple. :)

[JesseL]

The only way to rid coyotes is to get rid of their food and cover or make them food for a larger animal. They will eat themselves out of house and home and move on if you reduce the food available. That simple.

Unfortunately it's not that simple here. This is a heavily forested area (north-central Arizona) that's probably had coyotes (and the critters they eat) longer than people.

I know I probably can't eliminate them. I'll be satisfied with just putting them back in their place - i.e. afraid of people.

[stevelyn]

Subsonic .22 fired from inside your home out an open window, very quite I have done this to keep things from alerting neighbors with ALOT of sucess.To kill a coyote you will need a bullseye shot though.

Yes, this works extremely well. I've done it several times.

I also recommend it to friends and neighbors who have pest problems and may not want to bring attention to themselves.

[Beagle-zebub]

Good crossbows are surprisingly cheap, very powerful, and very quiet. (Especially if it isn't a compound.) What a bow will do, a crossbow will do better.

Oddly enough, they sell them on Amazon. Go figure.

[koja48]

Well, if you can't shoot them without getting in a bind, disturb them as often as possible . . . yell, blaze away with a wrist rocket . . . the goal is to make your particular area of the neighborhood less desirable than other locales to frequent (coyotes are smart; humans are smarter . . . use that to your advantage). I persuaded one this morning to stay away from a coworker's calves (but it was outside of town, relatively sparsely populated, and this 'yote will NEVER be back.). Good luck.

[owen]

the problem with poisons is that the posion doesn't stop at the first animal. everything that eats that animal may also be poisoned...

[m4coyote]

I have read over the posts here and have not seen this suggested. Why not an "electric" feeding station. You should easily be able to discriminate between a yote and a pet. AC electric power can be your friend in this instance, and the yote will not be able to utter a sound. ANY yote will drop where he stands if you correctly apply enough amperage of 120 volt house hold current through him. It is very difficult for anything to detect or smell voltage that is not there - until you decide to switch it on.

I have firsthand knowledge that this works, and will be glad to tell you how to do this through a PM. You can even control this handy appliance by a remote control clipped to your belt - if you wish. If you have yotes that are coming for food, this will work.

I love wildlife as much as anyone here, but I refuse to be bullied by anything - coyotes included.

[Dakoma]

I have read of baits for coyotes made from Chocolate not sure of what else was mixed in with it to make a coyote eat it.As many people know cocolate is poison to dogs it would also kill,you would have to make sure pets could not get to it.

[ADKWOODSMAN]

Snares work fine, you can release any dog or cat caught, hit the coyote with a baseball bat and problem solved.

[paintballdude902]

migh wanna get a cheap red rider bbgun thing that will shoot like 300fps

not enough to break the skin but but will give it an not so nice love bite

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I wouldn't poison - too much risk of harming domestic animals; besides it's inhumane, IMO.

I'd trap them (followed by killing or re-locating many miles away; your choice). OR, some of the mentioned ideas like slingshot, baseball, rocks, fireworks, etc.

[Viking88]

I have had some past problems with yotes. The answer was trap one, kill it, hang it from a tree. After 2 of these I had no more problems. The smell of a dead coyotes hanging from trees aparently scares them away, PO'd the wife too.

[marksman13]

M4coyote might be on to something with that electric feeding station. Sounds promising anyway.

I can tell you that shooting a coyote with a bow will not be a quiet proposition at all. A friend took care of a feral cat with a bow a couple nights ago. Caused enough ruckus to cause every light in the neighborhood to come on. A coyote yelping will definately get you some extra attention.

[JesseL]

A coyote yelping will definately get you some extra attention.

I don't know that it would be as much a problem as you might suspect. The coyotes raise a heck of a ruckus nearly every night just being coyotes. Just a couple of them can sound like an army of banshees.

[cassandrasdaddy]

the kill em and hang em to discorage the others worked for me. i need another pony to keep the foxes and coons away though. my husky lab mix hates coyotes. killed a few getting too old to catch em now unless i slow em down a lil first.we had one right throuh our yard and neighbors a 4 in the afternoon 2 days ago. her pitbull was upset.

[cassandrasdaddy]

i don't hunt much what size shot is smallest that would be effective? i used 00 till now but neighborhoods getting built up

[Art Eatman]

"...what size shot is smallest that would be effective?"

Depends on the shotgun's choke. Full or extra-full, even down to 7-1/2 high-brass will work to around 25 yards--but I'd probably stay with, say #4.

[Pilot]

The smell of a dead coyotes hanging from trees aparently scares them away, PO'd the wife too.

Was POing the wife a collateral benefit? :D

I would check the laws before shooting anything even pellet guns, crossbows, wrist rockets, paintball guns, etc. As someone else said, a lot of municipalities define firearms very broadly.

Trapping and calling animal control for removal would be one of my first choices. We have coyotes behind my house were there is a power line easement and walking/jogging/bike trail. Its is pretty dense suburbia though and they haven't become a problem, but I have a fenced in yard. I occassinally see them outside the fence looking in at my dog, but he's pretty big so I'm not really worried. They have never been agressive.....yet. They do keep the cat population down.

[cassandrasdaddy]

thanks art i got a box or 2 of 4's just like to know rather than make a guess. my code of morals and ethics has some funny peaks and valleys. kill em no prob . but whine like i'm in peta at the idea of being what i was taught is a "slob hunter" causes me issues when i think they have pups in a den. i don't want to let pups starve but will cheerfully kill same pups if i get a shot

[mgregg85]

A big +1 for a paintball gun or a cheap bb gun. I have used both to get rid of squirrels and an oppossum once. Won't kill them but I'm sure its awful painful and should send a message.

[packnrat]

ANYBODY who choses to use poison should try some first, to see if it works.

very bad deal and not the way to get the problem taken care of.


and yes it is a very sore spot for me.. rip holly, a very good 8 year old rott. from some snail bate.

shooting just to harm is also wrong, a festerning would is not a good way to die.

clean kills only.

no gun,
no poison,
no pelet gun,
no sling shot.

talk to the loacal pest control people...and i do not mean the roach patrol.

there is a group of people in your area who can shoot to kill pest yotes, dogs, etc.

are m-80's or bottle rockets allowed in your area?

try blasting some off close to the yotes.

think first.


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