Breeding Season May Bring More North Shore Coyote Encounters

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Breeding season may bring an increase in coyote sightings in Swampscott and surrounding North Shore communities in the coming weeks.

Swampscott Animal Control Officer Dan Proulx said residents should keep an eye on small animals and keep a noise-making device handy.

Proulx has told Patch that coyotes are generally "skittish like squirrels" around humans and will quickly head off if a loud noise is made.

"My advice is to have a whistle attached to your personal keys, even better attached permanently to your dog's leash, where the waste bags attach," Proulx posted on the Swampscott police social media page. "That way even if you panic, the whistle is right there ready to go. Mini air horns work well.

"Coyotes will turn and burn if you use either one."

Proulx said coyote breeding season peaks in mid-February and four to eight pups are born in a den in April or May.

"Coyotes maintain season social unit that consists of the pair and pups until the pups disperse on their own in late autumn," Proulx said.

More information on coyotes and their habits can be found here.

Proulx told Patch in October the area's coyote population is critical to keeping the rat population in check, but added that people should be careful when it comes to letting their cats roam free.

"Keep your cats indoors," he advised. "Don't leave food out for stray cats or small animals when they come around.

"Be aware of going into your open sheds. Look before you go in. If you don't have a fenced-in yard, don't go in without looking," he said.

He said if you do encounter a coyote the best course of action is to try to scare it away from you and your property.

"They are really skittish," he said. "They are super skittish like squirrels. If it happens, reach down inside and give it a good roar, and that should drive them away."

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)