Chief Issues Reminders About Coyotes, Foxes

The Grafton Police Department has received reports of sightings of coyotes and foxes in Town recently so I thought I would rerun this column for the safety of everyone.  (It should be noted that these precautions may be applied to both coyotes and foxes.)

QUESTION:

I was out jogging this morning when I saw a coyote and decided to turn around.  While I was jogging home, the coyote came up beside me and was watching me. I stopped and yelled at it to go home and it moved further away.  I continued yelling at it and started walking home.  What is the best thing to do when meeting up with a coyote?  Needless to say, I was scared and very glad to get home without any incidents.

ANSWER:

Coyotes are currently well established throughout the state.  They thrive in suburban and urban areas close to people.  Coyotes eat many different foods, including small animals, fruits, vegetables, garbage, and pet food.  Remember everything a coyote does is related to a potential meal.  The Grafton Police Department has received a few calls for coyote sightings over the past few weeks and would like to provide these suggestions from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife to make your property and your family less attractive to coyotes.  More information can be found at www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/.

• Don't let coyotes intimidate you:  Don't hesitate to scare or threaten coyotes with loud noises and bright lights.  Don't hesitate to pick up small objects, such as a tennis ball, and throw them at the coyote.  If a water hose is close at hand, spray the coyote with water in the face.  Let the coyote know it is unwelcome in your area.
• Secure your garbage:  Coyotes will raid open trash materials and compost piles.  Secure your garbage in tough plastic containers with tight fitting lids and keep in secure buildings when possible.  Take out trash the morning pick up is scheduled, not the previous night.  Keep compost piles in containers designed to contain but vent the material.
• Don't feed or try to pet coyotes:  Keep wild things wild!  Feeding, whether direct or indirect, can cause coyotes to act tame and over time may lead to bold behavior.  Coyotes that rely on natural food items remain wild and wary of humans.
• Keep your pets safe:  Although free roaming pets are more likely to be killed by automobiles than by wild animals, coyotes do view cats and small dogs as potential food and larger dogs as competition.  For the safety of your pets, keep them restrained at all times.
• Feed pets indoors:  Outdoor feeding attracts many wild animals to your door!
• Keep bird feeding areas clean:  Use feeders designed to keep seed off the ground as the seed attracts many small mammals that coyotes prey upon.  Remove feeders if coyotes are regularly seen around your yard.
• Close off crawl spaces under porches and sheds:  Coyotes use such areas for resting and raising young.
• Cut back brushy edges in your yard:  These areas provide cover for coyotes and their prey.
• Protect livestock and produce:  Coyotes will prey upon livestock.  Techniques, such as fencing, will protect livestock from predation.  Clear fallen fruit from around fruit trees.
• Educate your neighbors:  Pass this information along since your efforts will be futile if neighbors are providing food or shelter for coyotes.

Remind children not to approach or feed any wildlife.  If children feel threatened by the presence of coyotes or other wildlife, they should stay in a group and walk slowly to an area where adults are present.  Make sure your child understands that a coyote is a wild dog and should be treated with caution.  Adults should keep themselves between the coyote and small children.  While attacks on humans are extremely rare, people should still take precautions.

Also, if confronted, do not turn your back or run from a coyote.  If approached or followed by a coyote, make loud noises, yell and make yourself look big.  If the coyote approaches to an uncomfortably close distance, throw rocks or other objects at the coyote. 

Anyone with questions for the Chief’s Column may submit them by mail to the Grafton Police Department, 28 Providence Road, Grafton, MA 01519.  You may also email your questions or comments to chief@graftonpolice.com.  Please include an appropriate subject line, as I do not open suspicious email for obvious reasons. 

Normand A. Crepeau, Jr.

Chief of Police