If You Encounter a Coyote: 5 Tips to Avoid Unwanted Interactions

When Rochester Hills resident Tom Plotzke took his dog outside last week, he heard a commotion that led to a bloody deer carcass in his back yard. A wildlife specialist called to Plotzke's home near Old Perch and Walton determined about 4-6 coyotes took down the doe, which weighed between 125-150 pounds.

Residential areas can be an ideal habitat for coyote populations, especially near heavily forested areas, such as Rochester Hills and Oakland Township. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources offers the following tips to help prevent unwanted coyote interactions:

If You Encounter a Coyote

To assist in minimizing a potential conflict with a coyote:

• Never approach or touch a coyote.
• Never intentionally feed a coyote and eliminate all outside food sources, especially pet food.
• Put garbage out the morning of pick-up.
• Clear out wood and brush piles; they are a habitat for mice and may attract coyotes.
• Do not allow pets to roam free when coyotes are present—consider keeping pets indoors or accompany them outside, especially at night.