Understanding and Humanely Managing Coyotes: A Guide to Responsible Trapping (When Necessary)

Coyotes are intelligent and adaptable canids that play a vital role in many ecosystems. However, their presence can sometimes lead to conflict with humans, particularly in areas where they prey on livestock, pets, or become a nuisance. While non-lethal methods are always the preferred first step, there may be situations where trapping a coyote becomes a necessary measure for the protection of property or safety. This article provides a comprehensive guide to understanding coyote behavior, exploring alternative solutions, and, if absolutely necessary, performing humane and responsible coyote trapping. It is crucial to emphasize that trapping should only be considered as a last resort and that all local laws and regulations regarding wildlife trapping must be followed.

Before You Even Consider Trapping: Essential First Steps

Before contemplating trapping, it’s imperative to understand why a coyote might be present and explore non-lethal alternatives. Trapping should only be considered after exhausting all other options. Here’s what you should do first:

1. Identify the Cause of the Conflict

Coyotes are attracted to areas where food is readily available. Common attractants include:

• Easy Food Sources: Open garbage cans, pet food left outdoors, fallen fruit from trees, unsecured compost bins, bird feeders.
• Unprotected Livestock: Poultry, sheep, goats, and even small calves left vulnerable are easy targets.
• Small Pets: Unsupervised small dogs and cats can be perceived as prey.
• Rodent Populations: Coyotes will hunt rodents, so a property with high rodent activity may attract them.

2. Implement Non-Lethal Deterrents

Often, simple adjustments can effectively deter coyotes. Here are several methods to try:

• Secure Food Sources: Use animal-proof trash cans with tight-fitting lids, store pet food indoors, and clean up fallen fruit. Keep compost in sealed containers.
• Properly Secure Livestock: Use strong fencing (at least 6 feet high with an outward-facing overhang or buried wire mesh) to keep livestock safe. Consider using guard animals like llamas, donkeys, or livestock guardian dogs.
• Protect Pets: Always supervise pets when outdoors, especially at dawn and dusk. Consider installing fences, and keeping smaller pets indoors during vulnerable hours. Never leave pets unattended in the yard or on a leash.
• Use Motion-Activated Lights and Sprinklers: Coyotes are easily startled. Lights and sprinklers can scare them away.
• Make Noise: Yelling, banging pots and pans, or using an air horn can frighten coyotes.
• Remove Cover: Clear brush and tall grasses near structures to reduce hiding places.
• Hazing Techniques: Maintain a presence and make yourself look big and threatening. Use loud noises. Throw objects (not directly at the animal). Never run away from a coyote.

3. Consult with Experts

Contact your local wildlife agency or animal control office. They can provide valuable advice, assess the situation, and potentially offer additional resources or assistance. They may have specific recommendations relevant to your region and can advise on legal trapping requirements.

Understanding Coyote Behavior

Before even setting a trap, it’s critical to understand coyote behavior. This knowledge increases your chances of success and promotes humane trapping practices.

• Territorial Animals: Coyotes establish territories that they defend. These territories vary depending on food availability and habitat.
• Crepuscular Activity: Coyotes are most active at dawn and dusk, but they can also be active during the day, especially if their territory is undisturbed.
• Highly Intelligent and Adaptable: Coyotes are quick learners and can become wary of traps, especially if used improperly.
• Family Structures: Coyotes typically live in family groups. During breeding season, they may become more territorial and aggressive.
• Opportunistic Feeders: Coyotes will eat almost anything they can find, from rodents and rabbits to carrion, berries, and even pet food.

Responsible and Humane Trapping Methods

If, after trying all other methods, you determine that trapping is necessary, it’s crucial to use traps that are effective and minimize harm to the animal. Under no circumstances should traps be left unattended or unsupervised. You must check the trap at least daily, preferably more often. Always follow local laws regarding trapping.

Types of Traps

• Live Traps (Cage Traps): These are often the most humane and preferred option. They capture the animal without causing injury. Live traps come in various sizes. The trap should be large enough for a coyote to comfortably turn around and stand.
• Foot-Hold Traps (Padded): Foot-hold traps can be used if live traps are impractical, or if authorized under specific circumstances. These traps must have padded jaws to prevent significant injury. The use of foot-hold traps must be carefully considered and they must comply with local regulations. Unmodified foot-hold traps are rarely legal, and cause severe injury.
• Snare Traps: Snare traps are generally considered less humane and should be avoided unless you are highly skilled and have experience using them. They pose a high risk of strangulation and injury. These traps are often prohibited or heavily regulated.

Step-by-Step Guide to Setting a Live Trap (Cage Trap)

Here is a detailed guide on how to set a live trap safely and effectively:

Step 1: Choose the Right Location

• Identify High-Traffic Areas: Look for signs of coyote activity, such as tracks, scat (droppings), or areas where you’ve seen them frequent. Focus on trails or corridors coyotes are likely using.
• Avoid Obstacles: Choose a location free of obstructions that might interfere with the trap’s function. Make sure the trap door can open and close freely.
• Positioning: Place the trap on level ground to ensure it sits stable.
• Natural Cover: Placing the trap near bushes or along a fence line can provide cover, making it less obvious and more appealing to a coyote. However, avoid placing it where vegetation will hinder its operation.
• Distance from the Problem Area: If possible, set the trap some distance from the location causing the conflict so as to ensure it is not near your property where the coyote will be attracted anyway.

Step 2: Select the Right Bait

Using the correct bait is crucial for attracting a coyote into the trap. Consider these options:

• Meat-Based Baits: Chicken scraps, fish scraps (like sardines or tuna), meat scraps (including cooked leftovers), or a piece of road kill often work well, but be mindful that some of these also attract other animals including pets. Avoid over baiting, as too much food will fill the trap and potentially give the coyote a ‘free meal’.
• Commercial Lures: Lures specifically designed for coyotes, such as gland lures or urine lures, can enhance the effectiveness of your bait.
• Presentation: Place the bait in the back of the trap, behind the trigger mechanism. This ensures the coyote fully enters the trap to trigger it. You may want to place some scent or lure just before the door as well as to further encourage the animal.
• Smell is key: Coyotes rely heavily on their sense of smell, so using a strong-smelling bait can be very effective.

Step 3: Set Up the Trap

• Follow Manufacturer Instructions: Each trap may have a slightly different mechanism, so refer to the manual for guidance.
• Ensure Proper Function: Carefully check that the trap door opens and closes smoothly and the trigger is set correctly. You can test it using a stick to make sure it is functioning properly.
• Camouflage: Cover the trap with leaves, grass, or burlap to help it blend in with the surrounding environment, but do not cover the door mechanism itself. This makes the trap less noticeable and appears more natural.
• Use Gloves: Wear gloves when handling the trap and bait to minimize human scent. Coyotes have a keen sense of smell.
• Leave Footprints: In a way which is natural to your movements set the trap in such a way as to reduce direct human footprints around the trap itself.

Step 4: Check the Trap Regularly

• Daily Checks: Check the trap at least once per day, preferably more often. The time of day doesn’t really matter, but first thing in the morning may be better for releasing if you need to.
• Monitor for Activity: Watch for signs of an animal being caught and any disturbances to the trap.
• Provide Shelter: If an animal is trapped during extreme weather, provide shelter from the elements (e.g., a blanket or tarp) until it can be relocated.

Step 5: Handling a Trapped Coyote

When you have caught an animal, proceed carefully and consider how you intend to manage it. Contact the wildlife authority for support if needed.

• Approach Cautiously: Avoid approaching the trap quickly or making sudden movements that could further stress the animal.
• Never Reach In: Never reach into the trap, even if the animal appears calm. It could bite or scratch in defense.
• Cover the Trap: Covering the trap with a blanket can calm the animal and help reduce stress while you prepare for transport.
• Transport Carefully: When possible, place the entire trap inside a transport vehicle (e.g., the bed of a truck or a larger van). Ensure the trap is secure to avoid shifting during transport.
• Relocation: Always consult your local wildlife authority or animal control for guidance on relocating coyotes. Relocating the animal is often illegal or ineffective, as coyotes are territorial and will try to return, or another animal will take its place. In some cases, humanely euthanizing the animal might be the only option to resolve the issue but this too should only be done after consultation.
• Release: If authorized to release on site or at another location, slowly and carefully open the trap to allow the animal to exit and ensure you have an escape route clear of any interference.
• Clean Trap: thoroughly clean the trap before it’s reused to remove scent and potential disease. This will also help ensure another animal is not put off by scent of a prior animal.

Using Foot-Hold Traps (Padded) – Extreme Caution Required

Foot-hold traps are more problematic than live traps, and should only be used with extreme care and in compliance with local laws. Here are some considerations.

• Legal Compliance: Foot-hold traps are often highly regulated or completely banned. You must obtain necessary permits and follow all applicable trapping regulations.
• Padded Jaws are Essential: Only use foot-hold traps with padded jaws to minimize injury to the animal. Unpadded foot-hold traps are extremely inhumane.
• Trap Placement: Similar to live traps, consider placing foot-hold traps along trails, near brush, or where you’ve seen signs of activity. Avoid placing traps in open areas or in places where domestic animals are likely to be.
• Anchor Points: Secure the trap to a stake or other fixed object with a chain and swivel that allows the animal to move without breaking its leg or pulling the anchor.
• Daily Checks: It is imperative to check foot-hold traps multiple times daily to minimize the time the animal is held. Trapped animals are subjected to severe stress.
• Handling a Trapped Animal: Exercise extreme caution. Do not approach a trapped animal without proper equipment or the help of experienced professionals. Do not attempt to remove the animal without a plan and tools for capture.

Ethical Considerations and Responsible Trapping

Trapping is not a solution, it is a method of last resort. Always prioritize animal welfare and avoid methods that cause unnecessary pain or suffering. Consider these ethical practices.

• Minimizing Stress: Try to minimize stress for trapped animals. Provide cover and avoid unnecessary noise or movement.
• Non-Target Species: Be aware that traps can also catch other animals. It is important to consider the impact on non-target species and avoid setting traps that are likely to catch pets or other protected wildlife.
• Following Regulations: Comply fully with all local and state trapping laws and regulations.
• Euthanasia: If relocation is not an option, and euthanasia is required, ensure this is done humanely by a qualified professional.
• Education: Learn all you can about wildlife management and educate others about the importance of coexistence with wildlife.
• Prevention: Concentrate on preventing future conflicts by maintaining proper hygiene, securing food sources, and properly managing pets and livestock.

Conclusion

Trapping coyotes is a complex issue that requires careful planning and ethical consideration. It should only be considered as a last resort after exploring all other non-lethal methods. If trapping is necessary, use humane methods and adhere to local laws and regulations. Prioritize the safety and well-being of both animals and people. Most importantly, aim for long-term solutions based on understanding and responsible management of human-wildlife interactions. Consider alternative approaches such as using deterrents, modifying your property, and supporting wildlife management efforts. Remember that a healthy ecosystem is beneficial to everyone. In most cases, living alongside coyotes requires us to adapt, and to change our behavior more than it requires us to remove them. It’s better to learn to live in harmony than to try and remove a natural part of the environment.

By following these guidelines, you can make informed decisions about managing coyotes while prioritizing both human safety and animal welfare. When in doubt, seek professional guidance from wildlife management experts.