Coyote too close for comfort

TheMan419 · May 12, 2020

First let me start by saying we have horses. So protecting them is important. I know a lot of you here will tell me coyotes do not attack horses. They do. I have seen it at other barns we have been at. It is rare, but not zero. Also it can spook the horses and with them acting the fool they can get hurt by a fence or each other or who knows what.

Also we have a dog. We keep her either inside or on a lead when she is outside doing her business. Obviously do not want to have to worry about her.

So yesterday there was a coyote roaming our 18 acres and neighbor's 10 acres. Looked like he was just passing through. So no big deal - keep on moving dude and you will be fine.

Well later in the day I went out side and there he was in my yard, about 50 feet away from me. Thankfully the horses were in so no worries there. I do not routinely carry when I am just out and about on my own property so I could not dispatch him then and there.

In the 5 or so years we have been living here this is the first we have seen one that close in the day light. We have found their prints around the property in the snow in the morning, meaning they came around overnight. We also hear them at night yipping and calling to each other as they do.

If it was a one time thing for this dude no big deal, live and let live. However if he is that hungry or so bold that he is coming up to the house in the middle of the day I need to change that behavior - more than likely by eliminating him from the gene pool.

In Indiana they are nuisance animals. I do not need a permit so long as I am "taking" them on my own property. I can either hunt them or trap and euthanize them.

Note I am not a coyote hater. If he was just passing through and goes back to his nocturnal ways I am good with that. If he continues his daylight activities I am not going to bother him. We have lived and let live for this long.

So assuming he continues this activity any advice on trapping him? I have borrowed a coyote trap, but everything I read on line says they are tough to trap. Trap is a large cage type live trap. He would then be euthanized in the trap via being shot.

Jstpssng · May 12, 2020

TheMan419 said:
First let me start by saying we have horses. So protecting them is important. I know a lot of you here will tell me coyotes do not attack horses. They do. I have seen it at other barns we have been at. It is rare, but not zero. Also it can spook the horses and with them acting the fool they can get hurt by a fence or each other or who knows what.

Also we have a dog. We keep her either inside or on a lead when she is outside doing her business. Obviously do not want to have to worry about her.

So yesterday there was a coyote roaming our 18 acres and neighbor's 10 acres. Looked like he was just passing through. So no big deal - keep on moving dude and you will be fine.

Well later in the day I went out side and there he was in my yard, about 50 feet away from me. Thankfully the horses were in so no worries there. I do not routinely carry when I am just out and about on my own property so I could not dispatch him then and there.

In the 5 or so years we have been living here this is the first we have seen one that close in the day light. We have found their prints around the property in the snow in the morning, meaning they came around overnight. We also hear them at night yipping and calling to each other as they do.

If it was a one time thing for this dude no big deal, live and let live. However if he is that hungry or so bold that he is coming up to the house in the middle of the day I need to change that behavior - more than likely by eliminating him from the gene pool.

In Indiana they are nuisance animals. I do not need a permit so long as I am "taking" them on my own property. I can either hunt them or trap and euthanize them.

Note I am not a coyote hater. If he was just passing through and goes back to his nocturnal ways I am good with that. If he continues his daylight activities I am not going to bother him. We have lived and let live for this long.

So assuming he continues this activity any advice on trapping him? I have borrowed a coyote trap, but everything I read on line says they are tough to trap. Trap is a large cage type live trap. He would then be euthanized in the trap via being shot.

You will have a tough time getting her into a cage trap. Your best bet would be a good #4 foothold, but as you say she won't just step into it; there's a bit of work making a set good enough to fool her. (Also laws involved, but I never worry much about them if my animals are at risk.)
Notice that I said her... it sounds like you may have a den of pups nearby.

MossRoad · May 12, 2020

We've got them in our neighborhood as well. They run through the yard morning and evening, as well as at night. We also see them frequently when driving south out of town along the new road towards rochester.

A couple well placed shots near it might be enough to change it's mind if you can't get close enough to dispatch it. Anyhow, good luck with live trapping it. I've always heard it was pretty tough VS shooting with a rifle from a distance. But sitting out waiting takes a long time. My neighbor at our remote property towards north liberty gets a few every year while deer hunting. They make a rabbit in distress call that apparently works pretty well to draw them in.

riptides · May 12, 2020

We have them around too. Most of us have horses too. Only issue with them is food supply. Once the neighbors free range stock vanished, we saw less of them. The neighbor knew what was going on, LOL.

EddieWalker · May 12, 2020

Problems that get ignored always come back and cause more problems until they are addressed.

I have horses, goats and a bunch of chickens. I have been at war with coyotes for years. I kill a few a year, and in the last couple of months, a group of guys have been hunting my land at night with thermals and doing really well. Mostly they shoot the wild hogs, but they have also shot 3 coyotes so far. They have six game cameras spread out that send images to their phones, so they know what's a happening, when it's happening. Then they come out at night and sit until something shows up.

Coyotes are very difficult to hunt. If you have one that is out during the day, and not afraid of being seen, you have a problem animal. Pets are a favorite meal of theirs if they can get close enough.

My most effective way to protect my chickens is a hot wire. Coyotes will touch it and literally scream for ten minutes as they run away after being zapped!!!! I've seen dozens of areas around my fence where they tear up the dirt getting away from the fence after touching it. Since I put up three rows of electric wire on my fence, I haven not lost any chickens to coyotes. Unfortunately, only 2 of my coops are inside that fenced area. My original coop does not have a fence around it yet. That's my next big project.

When I see a coyote, I try to shoot it. For the last couple of years I've been using my deer rifle, but they are moving pretty quick when I get close to them, and I'm about 50% at hitting them on the run. Now I'm using 00 buckshot in my 12 gauge, which has proven to be much more effective.

lman · May 12, 2020

We've got them around here. Electric fencing will keep them away from your horses. We've never had any problems with them apparently due to the electric fence. They do make a lot of noise at night.

ruffdog · May 12, 2020

I never had coyotes hang around the house, especially during the day. Last Fall my neighbors and I had noticed a sickly looking female staying too close to the buildings and people. When I was cooking chicken on the grill, it came up within 100ft of us and the dogs. We all have small dogs so we were all on the lookout for it. One day I was able to sneak up on it while it watched a squirrel out by the garden. A well placed .22 mag will put them down too. We still hear other coyotes in the wild but at least they stay away from the buildings.

sea2summit · May 12, 2020

A yote shouldn't be that comfortable around people in a rural area. Is this close to town?

I don't think it will screw with horses but if one drops a foal they will be all over it. Foal if possible or afterbirth, with cows they'll also grab onto a cows tail while she's giving birth if she's not getting it out and they'll strip tails. Overall bad news if you expect any birthing activities.

Beeenvenue · May 12, 2020

Bush hogging 14 acres Saturday and saw one about 50 yards in front of me after I made a turn. Did not care about me or the tractor at all (full throttle and shredder engaged). Took a nice 30 second video as he/she just ambled across my field. I will post a link to the video if I can figure out how to upload it somewhere.

No livestock on my property but plenty of bunnies and mice.