Coyote's getting too close

[MarkLeininger]

Coyote\'s getting too close

We are having a problem with coyotes approaching much closer than they ever have. I'm incapable of shooting them, I wish I could but I just can't do it, so that's not a practical suggestion. They've eaten a few of the neighbor's dogs and we have chickens that we're concerned about. I am wondering in particular about two things.

First, we have never energized the lower wires around our pasture. We have 3 wires, at about 18", 30" and 50". Right now only the top is energized. If we energized the lower two would that be likely to help or would they run right through it?

Second, I've seen these plastic guns that shoot noisemaker firework projectiles that are supposed to scare them. Has anyone ever used these? There would be a little problem with these because they would scare the daylights out of the horses, but they've gotten used to people shooting shotguns during hunting season so I guess they could get used to that too.

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[slowrev]

Re: Coyote\'s getting too close

Lower hot wires on the fence might help, but the only fix I have seen is to shoot them, but you seem to have to kill most of the clan/pack as the others seem to want vengence....
A preditor grade of low impedance charger seems to work best if you go the electric fence route.
It is becoming more of a problem here too.
Ben

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: Coyote\'s getting too close

Mark, I'm not where in suburbia you are, but I'm 45 minutes south of Chicago's Chinatown and we get coyotes right up to our house so I know what you mean when you say they are getting close. The only place I've been able to keep them out of with total success is a larged penned area with a 5' cyclone fence where we allow our dogs total freedom.

I'd bypass the fireworks gun thing completely because for it to truely be effective you'll likely have to be outside and in range and both of those are probably unlikely most of the times the coyotes are roaming.

For electric fences to be most effective, the electrified stand must be at NOSE level to the animal you are trying to control. That said, the middle strand is way too high if it is 30" off the ground. The strand at 18" might be about right, but might be a bit high as coyotes seem to skulk along with their heads fairly low when on the prowl. I'd start by electrifying the lower wire. But I'd also consider adding some fence fabric behind that electric strand that would act as a physical barrier. The fence would stop them and make then sniff, they could probably go over anything you could put up, but if they stop and sniff then they are very likely to hit that magic 18" electrified wire.

 

[gsganzer]

Re: Coyote\'s getting too close

If it's possible, put a miniature or full size donkey in your pasture.

 

[fenneran]

Re: Coyote\'s getting too close

Mark,
Since you can't stomach shooting them, what about hiring someone to do it? It really is a decision about who will win...them or you. They will continue to hunt your area until the food is gone (meaning cats, dogs, chickens, etc) or you stop them from coming. The only way I know of is to kill them. When they are that close, they are dangerous. We had one come up during the day and I had to take it out. He must have been by himself, because I have not seen any more since (about two years ago)
-Frank

 

[cowboydoc]

Re: Coyote\'s getting too close

Neither one of those solutions will work at all. We have 8 strand high tensile all electrified. There isn't more than 6" in between hot wires and they go right through it or under it and never hit it. This year alone I've killed 22 right from the door or a window. So far we've only lost one calf knock on wood. Almost impossible to keep cats around unless they are in the barn.

 

[MarkLeininger]

Re: Coyote\'s getting too close

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I'm not where in suburbia you are,)</font>

We're about 40 miles west of Chicago surrounded by forest preserve. I like the idea of the physical barrier down low to make them slow up. I'll check with the aesthetics coordinator for permission on that. I was also concerned that they will go through the wire, end up in the pasture, and then the only exit is to come all the way up by the barn looking for a way out. The physical barrier would help prevent them from getting through in the first place.

 

[SkyPup]

Re: Coyote\'s getting too close

I've shot quite a few of them here on our place and did them a favor, they were so mangey and diseased looking that I wouldn't touch a dead one with a ten foot pole.

 

[MarkLeininger]

Re: Coyote\'s getting too close

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( what about hiring someone to do it? )</font>

Yes, my neighbor is willing to do it, he's an old farmer and it doesn't bother him at all. The problem is he's so old that by the time I could get him out there, they will be long gone. I need a young farmer. We also need to do this with a shotgun which would limit the range. There's too many houses in a couple directions that make it too dangerous to use a rifle.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: Coyote\'s getting too close

Mark, we are fixing up part of our property near the road, the lovely Mrs_Bob wants a decorative wrought iron fence running about 300' of road frontage, then about 150' back from the road to the new barn we plan on bulding near the south edge of the property. The problem is that the lovely Mrs_Bob has a 6 pound Maltese that she loves. I consider it "prey" for the local coyotes, red tailed hawks, and the owls, but she really loves that little yapping ankle biter so I have to figure out how best to keep it secure.

Currently the little beast only goes out in the yard when my dog goes out there, and that yard area is about 60' by 90' enclosed by a 5' cyclone fence. No coyote has gotten in there and the tree cover and the fact that my big akita is usually in very close proximity to the lovely Mrs_Bob's yapping mutt keeps the hawks/owls from taking away the Maltese. But as we expand the yard it will end up to be closer to one acre that the dogs can roam. I don't know what I will do about the birds. But to satisfy the lovely Mrs_Bob I will be putting up a very nice decorative wrought iron (acually powder coat aluminum) fence, to keep the coyotes out and the little dog in, the inside of the fence will have a plastic mesh deer fence installed starting at 6" BELOW ground level and going up to the top rail. The plastic mesh is virtually invisible from any distance over 50' so we will really just see the fancy fence she wants to see. By going down below the surface, we eliminate most of the digging animals as well. It is very likely there will be rock running the length of the fence as well, which will further inhibit digging under the fence. I suspect it will keep out the coyotes.

The plastic fence is available in several heights, starting at 4', it comes on rolls, is easy to handle, and is UV stabilized so it should last for years. I started using it around some of my smaller trees to prevent deer damage. It seems like it might be ideal. Gemplers and several other sources sell plastic mesh fencing.