Coyotes On The Move

Recent news reports in Northeast Ohio warn about coyotes coming out of hiding as they work harder to find food in this snowy winter. Our Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Program staff fields phone calls about coyote behavior throughout the year. Our Wildlife Educaton & Rehabilitation Specialist Amy LeMonds was interviewed by WOIO-TV’s Dawn Kendrick today and offered the following advice:

“Animals definitely have to work harder for food in tough winter conditions and you will see animals out during unusual hours when food is scarce. It's not common, but coyotes are capable of taking a small dog or cat, so we advise people to keep an eye on their pets when they’re outside especially from dusk to dawn. People should also avoid feeding animals outside and secure their garbage. Excess food will not only attract coyotes but will also support animals such as rodents which are a large part of a coyote's diet. We never want to alarm people, but we live side by side with coyotes in this area and we need to be aware of their behaviors.”

One of the more interesting behaviors this time of year is the way these canines use frozen Lake Erie to travel. It offers a much safer route than crossing our dangerous highways as they roam in search of hunting prospects. The photos here were taken in Bay Village by Erica Maddox. Erica reports that three coyotes were on the lake the day she snapped the pictures.

Watch for Dawn’s coyote report with Amy at 4 and 6 p.m. on 19 Action News. Check out our one-page flyer, Co-existing with Coyotes, at this pdf link.