Coyotes & You

William M. GiulianoWildlife Extension Specialist

Department of Wildlife Ecology & ConservationUniversity of Florida/IFAS

How many coyotes are in Florida?

• Unknown

• Increasing

• Come from?

Where do coyotes live in Florida?

• Everywhere

• Generalist

Problems associated with coyotes

• Predation on livestock– Sheep– Calves– Hogs– Poultry

Problems associated with coyotes

• Crop losses– Watermelons

Problems associated with coyotes

• Kill pets– Dogs– Cats

• Hybridization– “coydog”

Problems associated with coyotes

• Effects on other wildlife– Predation

• Sea turtle nests• Rabbits• Deer

– Competition• Fox• Bobcat

Problems associated with coyotes

• Disease– Rabies

Problems associated with coyotes

• Attacks on people– Exceptionally rare

– Florida

Recognizing damage

• Livestock

• Scavenging

Recognizing damage

• Tracks and scat

Management of coyote populations

• Integrated Pest Management– Removal

• Hunting/shooting• Trapping• Repellents• Guard animals

– Exclusion– Cultural methods and habitat modification

Management of coyote populations

• Potential problems with removal– Ground nesting birds

– Removing the “good” ones

Can they be controlled?

• Control: difficult at best– >75% of population each year– Density-dependent reproduction

• Eradication: very unlikely

Control measures: Removal

• Gun, bow, livetrap, and snare

– No closed season

– Permit needed to shoot at night

– Calls & lures

– Tracking with dogs

– Effective

– Labor intensive

Control measures: Removal

• Trapping– #3 coil or long-spring trap

– Effective and versatile

– Skill required

– Special permit required

Control measures: Removal

• Poisons– Illegal in Florida!

Control measures: Repellents

• Sonic and visual– Some benefits

• Chemicals– Not effective

Control measures: Guard Animals

• Dogs

• Llamas

• Donkeys

– All very effective

– Expensive

Control measures: Exclusion

• Fencing– Effective– Expensive

Control measures:Cultural Methods & Habitat Modification

• Pasture selection

• Lighting

• Herding

• Lamb and calf inside

• Remove carrion

– All can help

Coyotes: Here to stay!

More Detailed Information

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/

William M. GiulianoWildlife Extension Specialist

Department of Wildlife Ecology & ConservationUniversity of Florida/IFAS

PO Box 110430Gainesville, FL 32611

docg@ufl.edu