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Coyote mating season is underway: What this means for pet safety
It doesn’t matter if you live in a populated urban area or in the middle of nowhere — coyotes may roam in any mainland Massachusetts community.
Coyote mating season is in full swing in Massachusetts, which means pet owners in both cities and rural areas must be vigilant to keep their animals safe.
The eastern coyote’s mating season runs from January through March. During those months, male coyotes will be on the prowl looking for a new mate or trying to protect the one they already have. Wildlife experts say this can lead to more incidents involving coyotes and residential animals.
The state’s Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) said three things can prevent coyote conflict during mating season: keeping pets indoors, removing food sources, and “hazing” coyotes.
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Residents should keep pets indoors as much as possible to prevent coyote attacks. When outside, pets should be directly supervised on a leash. Experts believe coyotes view larger dogs as mating competition, while smaller dogs and even cats are considered food.
“Do not supervise your pet from a distance on your porch or at your backdoor. Most coyote attacks involve dogs that are unsupervised or being supervised from a distance in a backyard,” DFW said on its website.
People should never feed coyotes, whether intentionally or unintentionally. Any natural food sources like bird seed, garbage, compost, pet food, or backyard chickens can attract coyotes.
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“Coyotes that find human-associated food sources will spend more time in yards and neighborhoods. It’s essential for neighbors to work together to secure or remove all human-associated food sources in a community,” DFW said.
Experts say hazing coyotes by scaring them off is a safe and effective way to deter them from one’s property. But the point of hazing is to frighten coyotes — not hurt them.
“You can haze a coyote by creating loud noises by yelling or using a small air horn, waving a jacket overhead to look bigger, spraying a hose or throwing small objects in the coyote’s direction, and physically chasing and driving the coyote off. Haze the animal until it has fully left the area,” DWF said.
Experts noted that hazing is ineffective if done from inside a home or a vehicle.
“Hazing is most effective when it’s done repeatedly, when a variety of techniques are used, and when many people participate,” said DCF.
However, coyotes are naturally wary of people. According to the Mass Audobon, coyote attacks on humans are rare in Massachusetts, with less than 10 known attacks in the last 60 years.
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