The Unexpected Garden Feature That Could Be Attracting Coyotes To Your Yard

One of the great things about having a yard is all the incredible wildlife that comes to visit. While birds and chipmunks might be welcome guests in your yard, there are some visitors who have a more menacing presence. If you've been hearing yips and howls or have been finding animal droppings in your yard containing bits of hair and bone, it might be a coyote that's been visiting. While it's important to know that coyotes can pose a threat to you, your children, and your pets, it's also noteworthy that they are also a danger to the other wildlife in your yard – the kind you do enjoy. 

Since coyotes are not only hunters but also have omnivorous scavenging tendencies, they enjoy a variety of foods. If you suspect a coyote has been in your yard, it's wise to figure out what food source you might be unintentionally providing. If you have a bird feeder in your yard, that might be the culprit. Although there are benefits of having a bird feeder in your yard, a coyote will enjoy hunting the small animals and birds that visit, as well as helping themselves to different types of bird seed.

There are a variety of bird feeder solutions to keep unwanted animals out of yards. For example, to discourage black bears, placing the bird feeder in a higher spot will work to discourage them from visiting, but this will not work with coyotes, nor will most of the most common ways to keep unwanted pests out of your bird feeder. This is because one of the main reasons they are coming near your bird feeder is to hunt the birds and rodents that visit. So, if you have found coyote scat in your yard, particularly around your bird feeder, you may have to remove the bird feeder entirely. It may feel like a disappointing solution, but it is best for you, the wildlife you enjoy, and the coyotes. 

When coyotes find sources of food in neighborhoods and urban areas, over time, they lose their fear of humans, which is dangerous for everyone. That is why it's so important to discourage them by removing your bird feeder. Other ways you can discourage coyotes from entering your yard are to install fencing, clear fruit that falls from trees, secure your compost and trash bins, and remove any brush that can be used for nesting or as a habitat.