Coyotes are types of animals that will eat just about anything they can find.
Is that a funny-looking dog in your yard, or something else? What should you do? Do you need a coyote removal service?
First off, relax – it’s not a wolf; we do not have wolves in your area. It could be a coyote, though. Coyotes look very much like dogs, with their pointed ears, long muzzles, and bushy tails. Coyotes can also vary widely in size, as dogs do, although they will not usually weigh more than 50 pounds.
Usually people hear coyotes as opposed to seeing them – they have a very distinctive yip that can keep you awake at night. During the times when they are rearing their young, though, they may be more likely to venture out in the daytime.
Coyotes are often misunderstood. People will tell you that if you see a coyote during the day, it probably has rabies. As just stated, though, it probably simply means that the female is taking her pups out for a bit of exercise.
People also often fear being attacked by coyotes. Such incidents are so uncommon as to be practically non-existent, and when they do occur they can usually be attributed to human error – in other words, someone just got too close to something that looked like a dog.
Coyotes in your area are often represented as being aggressive, but the reality is that they are very shy and will do almost anything in their power to avoid contact with people. The flip side to this, though, is that some people think it’s fun to make “pets” out of coyotes, offering them food, and some coyotes will accept a certain level of human contact if they think they are going to get something good to eat.
You are probably not in any danger from a coyote in your area. If you have a large dog, he is not likely in any danger either, since coyotes tend to avoid conflict whenever possible. However, if you have a small dog or a cat, there is a very good chance that a coyote will perceive it as an easy meal.
If you keep livestock, coyotes may attack in packs to bring down weaker animals. A horse is most likely to give a coyote, or even several coyotes, a good boot with a well-shod hoof, and will be safe. Something like a lamb or a goat will be more vulnerable, and waterfowl and chickens are easy prey.
Controlling Coyotes
Coyotes are very crafty. A pro like one of the wildlife prevention and exclusion specialists at Grade A Critter in your area can provide you with animal trapping, but you should never attempt it on your own.
Contact Grade A Critter for Coyote Removal
If you are having problems with coyotes or other problem animals, call Grade A Critter at 770-713-4552. We can help with all types of animal issues.
In body form and size, the coyote (Canis latrans) resembles a small collie dog, with erect pointed ears, slender muzzle, and a bushy tail. Coyotes are predominantly brownish gray in color with a light gray to cream-colored belly. Color varies greatly, however, from nearly black to red or nearly white in some individuals and local populations. Most have dark or black guard hairs over their back and tail. In western states, typical adult males weigh from 25 to 45 pounds (11 to 16 kg) and females from 22 to 35 pounds (10 to 14 kg). In the East, many coyotes are larger than their western counterparts, with males averaging about 45 pounds (14 kg) and females about 30 pounds (13 kg).
The red fox is dog-like in appearance, with an elongated pointed muzzle and large pointed ears that are usually erect and forward. It has moderately long legs and long, thick, soft body fur with a heavily furred, bushy tail (Fig. 1). Typically, red foxes are colored with a light orange-red coat, black legs, lighter-colored underfur and a white- tipped tail. Silver and cross foxes are color phases of the red fox. In North America the red fox weighs about 7.7 to 15.4 pounds (3.5 to 7.0 kg), with males on average 2.2 pounds (1 kg) heavier than females.
For managing coyote damage, a variety of control methods must be avail- able since no single method is effective in every situation. Success usually involves an integrated approach, combining good husbandry practices with effective control methods for short periods of time. Regardless of the means used to stop damage, the focus should be on damage prevention and control rather than elimination of coyotes. It is neither wise nor practical to kill all coyotes. It is important to try to prevent coyotes from killing calves or sheep for the first time. Once a coyote has killed livestock, it will probably continue to do so if given the opportunity. Equally important is taking action as quickly as possible to stop coyotes from killing after they start.
Foxes may cause serious problems for poultry producers. Turkeys raised in large range pens are subject to damage by foxes. Losses may be heavy in small farm flocks of chickens, ducks, and geese. Young pigs, lambs, and small pets are also killed by foxes. Damage can be difficult to detect because the prey is usually carried from the kill site to a den site, or uneaten parts are buried. Foxes usually attack the throat of young livestock, but some kill by in- flicting multiple bites to the neck and back. Foxes do not have the size or strength to hold adult livestock or to crush the skull and large bones of their prey. They generally prefer the viscera and often begin feeding through an entry behind the ribs. Foxes will also scavenge carcasses, making the actual cause of death difficult to determine.
Grade a Critter has 7 years of experience in wildlife control services.
But our expertise in wildlife management goes farther than just our years of experience. For us, wildlife removal is down to a science.
We’ve got critter problems covered from A-to-Z. No matter your animal issue, we’re equipped to quickly & humanely handle wildlife removal in your Area.
Get in contact with our crew today, and we’ll get rid of unwanted guests, critters as soon as possible.
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