For emergencies involving coyotes call 911.
Coyotes and Current Mange problem
Treatment for mange in companion animals is feasible and required to regain full health, but treating a coyote for skin infection is much more difficult! Using bait with medicine is risky and likely ineffective. Authorized trapping is difficult and even when trapped, coyotes are terrified and not likely to thrive indoors going through treatment for weeks in the presence of humans. Mange can lead to secondary infections due to damaged skin and hypothermia from hair loss. However if the wild animal is ambulatory and able to eat/drink/run/walk, animal management and Colorado Parks and Wildlife advise to leave it alone or haze as needed. Hazing ensures a fear of humans and reduces the likelihood of human contact with a wild animal. Coyotes are fast learners, so if every time they see a human they have an unpleasant experience, they'll remember to avoid humans. The mere appearance of a human is often enough to send a coyote packing. However they're curious and territorial, so yelling and throwing items are sometimes necessary to cause enough of a scene to get them to flee. Seeing a coyote during daylight is not necessarily indicative of illness- coyotes, like most other urban wildlife, are very adaptable and will forage or hunt when food and favorable weather are available.
Animal management is monitoring the health and behavior of coyotes with mange. If you see a wild animal who appears sick or injured, or if their behavior is abnormal, call dispatch at 303-980-7300.
Further reading:
Coyote Hazing Tips for Success
2. The coyote being hazed must be able to recognize that the potential threat is coming from a person. Therefore, hiding behind a bush and throwing rocks or hazing from inside a car or house (for example) isn’t effective.
3. When hazed for the first time, a coyote may not respond at first or may run a short distance away. If this happens, it is important to continue hazing (and intensify the hazing if possible) until the coyote leaves the area. Otherwise, the coyote will learn to wait until the person gives up. Inconsistent hazing will create an animal more resistant to hazing instead of reinforcing the notion that “people are scary.”
4. Make sure to provide an escape route for the coyote. Do not corner the coyote or chase the animal in the direction of traffic or other people.
5. A group of coyotes should be hazed in the same manner as a single coyote. In a group, there will always be a dominant coyote who will respond first, and once he runs away, the others will follow.
6. Hazing efforts should be exaggerated at the beginning of a hazing program, but less effort will be needed as coyotes learn to avoid people and neighborhoods. Coyotes learn quickly, and their family members and pups will emulate their behavior, leading to a ripple effort throughout the local coyote population.
7. Certain levels of hazing must always be maintained so that coyotes do not learn or return to unacceptable habits.
8. Obviously sick or injured coyotes should not be hazed by the general public. In these cases, police or animal control officers should be contacted.
9. People should never run from or ignore a coyote. Running from a coyote can initiate a chasing instinct while ignoring a coyote creates habituation and negates the positive effects of hazing.
10. It is important to identify and remove possible coyote attractants in conjunction with hazing. Hazing will be less effective if food attractants are plentiful in a neighborhood.
1. Hazing is most effective when an individual coyote is hazed by a variety of people using a variety of tools and techniques.
2. The coyote being hazed must be able to recognize that the potential threat is coming from a person. Therefore, hiding behind a bush and throwing rocks or hazing from inside a car or house (for example) isn’t effective.
3. When hazed for the first time, a coyote may not respond at first or may run a short distance away. If this happens, it is important to continue hazing (and intensify the hazing if possible) until the coyote leaves the area. Otherwise, the coyote will learn to wait until the person gives up. Inconsistent hazing will create an animal more resistant to hazing instead of reinforcing the notion that “people are scary.”
4. Make sure to provide an escape route for the coyote. Do not corner the coyote or chase the animal in the direction of traffic or other people.
5. A group of coyotes should be hazed in the same manner as a single coyote. In a group, there will always be a dominant coyote who will respond first, and once he runs away, the others will follow.
6. Hazing efforts should be exaggerated at the beginning of a hazing program, but less effort will be needed as coyotes learn to avoid people and neighborhoods. Coyotes learn quickly, and their family members and pups will emulate their behavior, leading to a ripple effort throughout the local coyote population.
7. Certain levels of hazing must always be maintained so that coyotes do not learn or return to unacceptable habits.
8. Obviously sick or injured coyotes should not be hazed by the general public. In these cases, police or animal control officers should be contacted.
9. People should never run from or ignore a coyote. Running from a coyote can initiate a chasing instinct while ignoring a coyote creates habituation and negates the positive effects of hazing.
10. It is important to identify and remove possible coyote attractants in conjunction with hazing. Hazing will be less effective if food attractants are plentiful in a neighborhood.
Winter safety tips: As days shorten and get colder, coyote activity normally increases in due to breeding season.
- Monitor your pets outdoors, especially cats and smaller dogs, as coyotes may view them as a food source or perceive them as a threat to their territory.
- Accompanying your pet outside as coyotes are typically wary of humans.
- Add spotlights to the yard, coyote rollers to fence tops and announce your presence when pets go outside.
- If you do see a coyote, haze it by making noise and continue to pester it until it leaves.
If You Encounter a Coyote
Coyotes generally are scared of humans and it is exceedingly rare to have a coyote bite or attack a human; however, Arvada Animal Management encourages residents to use hazing techniques such as shouting, clapping hands, exaggerated arm gestures and stomping feet if they see a coyote.
How to Discourage Coyote Familiarity
- NEVER feed a coyote.
- Do not leave pet food outside, day or night.
- Do not leave trash uncovered. Make sure dumpsters are covered at all times.
- Do not encourage them into our neighborhoods and yards.
How to Protect Your Pets
- When walking your dog, keep your dog on a leash.
- Keep cats indoors. Outdoor cats are at risk of becoming prey to coyotes (and other predators).
- Supervise pets in backyards that back to open space or greenbelts where coyotes have been documented.
Reporting Coyote Activity
You can submit a request online or call Arvada Animal Management at 720-898-6850.
