GV Newsletter 5-17

GOVERNMENT
IF A COYOTE APPROACHES
YOU, NEVER RUN AWAY….
INSTEAD HAZE!
Hazing is a method that uses deterrents to move an animal out of
an area or discourage an undesirable behavior or activity. Hazing
can help maintain coyotes’ fear of humans and deter them from
neighborhood spaces such as backyards and playgrounds.
Hazing Methods
Using a variety of different hazing tools is critical because coyotes
can habituate to individual items, sounds, and actions. A coyote
who is 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 your car isn’t effective.
You can use hazing techniques and tools for one animal or
multiple animals. There is usually a dominant animal in the group
who will respond, and others will follow her lead. Don’t stop
hazing after it’s successful. Coyotes or their pups could return to
their unacceptable habits or behaviors if you stop. Once you haze
the coyote, it may return. Continue to haze the coyote as you did
before. It usually only takes a couple of times for the coyote not to
return.
• Yell and wave your arms while approaching the coyote —
“Go Away Coyote” Method.
The simplest method of hazing a coyote involves being loud
and large. If a coyote has not been hazed before, he might not
immediately run away when you yell at him. If this happens,
you might need to walk toward the coyote and increase the
intensity of your hazing. If the coyote does run away, he might
stop after a distance and look back at you. It’s important to
continue to haze the coyote until he leaves the area completely.
You might need to use multiple tactics, such as shaking
noisemakers, stomping your feet, and spraying him with a hose
to get him to leave.
• Use noisemakers (e.g. your voice, whistles, air horns, bells,
soda cans filled with pennies or dead batteries, pots and pans
banged together).
• Use projectiles (e.g. sticks, small rocks, cans, tennis balls,
rubber balls).
• Try other repellents (e.g. hoses, water guns with vinegar water,
spray bottles with vinegar water, pepper spray, bear repellent,
or walking sticks). Citronella spray is also very effective for
hazing a coyote. One brand is SprayShield. If a coyote is in
your yard and won’t leave you can use ammonia rags
(ammonia soaked rags, with 70 percent ammonia to 30 percent
water.) Throw them at the coyote. During warmer months you
can squirt them with a hard spray from your hose.
household pet is allowed to roam free.
What You Can Do:
• Keep pets on a six-foot leash when walking at all times.
It is illegal to have your dog off a leash and the law will
be enforced.
• Choose alternate times when you allow your pets in the
yard so your behavior is not predictable with coyotes.
• Never allow your pets to “play” with a coyote.
• Pick up small pets if confronted by a coyote.
• Always supervise your pet when outside, especially at
dawn and dusk.
• Never leave cats or dogs outside after dark.
• If you must leave your pet outside, secure it in a fully
enclosed kennel.
• Keep your pets up-to-date on vaccinations.
REPORT COYOTE
BEHAVIOR AND ACTIVITY
Please call the Greenwood Village Police Department at
303-773-2525 with information on coyote sightings
including sick or injured coyotes. The Police Department is
actively keeping a record of coyote activity in the Village
which will assist the Village in tracking the coyote
population. GV MAY 2017 | GV NEWSLETTER PG. 17