Ten years ago, seeing a coyote in Louisville was a rare event, something that happened only on the rural fringes of the county. Today, sightings are common in densely populated neighborhoods like St. Matthews, the Highlands, and Germantown.

The Eastern Coyote has adapted remarkably well to city life. They navigate traffic, avoid humans, and thrive on the abundance of food our suburbs provide. While the presence of a predator in your backyard can be unsettling, coyotes are here to stay. Eradication is neither possible nor effective (removing one just creates a vacuum for another to move in).

The goal is coexistence. By understanding their behavior, we can keep our pets safe and keep the coyotes wild.

The Benefits of Coyotes

It might be hard to see the upside when you are worried about your cat, but coyotes play a vital role in the urban ecosystem. They are a “keystone predator.”

• Rodent Control: Their primary diet consists of rats, mice, voles, and groundhogs. Without coyotes, rodent populations in Louisville would explode, leading to more disease and property damage.
• Goose Control: Coyotes eat goose eggs, helping to check the population of Canada Geese that foul our parks and golf courses.

The Golden Rule: Do Not Feed

The single biggest cause of coyote conflict is habituation. Coyotes naturally fear humans. They want to be invisible. But when they are fed—either intentionally or accidentally—they lose that fear.

A habituated coyote starts to view humans as a food source. They may approach joggers, hang around porches, or become aggressive when food isn’t offered.

• Intentional Feeding: Never put out food for coyotes. It is dangerous for the neighborhood and usually a death sentence for the coyote (who will eventually have to be euthanized for safety).
• Accidental Feeding: Secure your trash cans. Do not leave pet food outside. Clean up fallen fruit from trees.

Pet Safety: The “Dawn and Dusk” Rule

Coyotes are opportunistic hunters. While they rarely attack humans, they do view small pets as prey and large dogs as territorial threats.

1. Cats Indoors: The only way to 100% protect a cat is to keep it indoors. Outdoor cats are a primary food source for urban coyotes.
2. Supervise Dogs: Coyotes are most active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular). Be extra vigilant during these times. Do not let small dogs out into the backyard alone, even if you have a fence (coyotes can jump 6-foot fences).
3. Leashes: Always keep dogs on a leash when walking in parks like Cherokee or Seneca, especially near wooded areas.

Coyote Hazing: How to Be Scary

If you see a coyote in your yard or on the street, do not ignore it. If you walk away quietly, you are teaching the coyote that he is welcome there. You need to re-instill the fear of humans. This is called hazing.

How to Haze:

1. Get Big: Stand tall, wave your arms overhead.
2. Get Loud: Yell “Go away!”, clap your hands, use a whistle or air horn.
3. Throw Things: Throw sticks, small rocks, or tennis balls near the coyote (not to injure, but to scare).
4. Be Persistent: Do not stop until the coyote leaves the area completely.
5. Never Run: Running can trigger a chase instinct. Stand your ground.

By hazing coyotes, you are doing them a favor. You are teaching them to avoid humans and residential areas, which keeps them out of trouble and allows us to coexist safely.