Encountering Coyotes: Coyote Interactions
Can We Remove Coyotes From Cities?
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In short, no. Coyotes are here to stay.
Relocating coyotes does not work—being left in an unfamiliar place without their family often leads a coyote to roam, get into trouble, or even be killed by a car. For this reason, state wildlife laws prohibit the relocation of coyotes.¹ |
Molly Sultany
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Lethal Removal
It is extremely rare for habituation to get to the point in which lethal removal is appropriate. If a coyote has become so habituated that it's a threat to the community, the coyote may be killed (lethally removed). Lethal removal can be effective for eliminating individual troublesome coyotes, but it does not help reduce local populations. Lethal removal in urban areas is also a significant logistical and safety challenge. In addition, identifying and removing the specific coyote displaying worrisome behavior is generally very difficult. In Oregon, state wildlife officials promote sensible coexistence approaches to help keep the resident coyotes from ever getting to the extreme behavioral issues that would require lethal removal. (ODFW's recommendations)
Removing Coyotes from Cities
Some people may want all or many coyotes removed from an urban area, thinking that they don’t “belong” in a city or suburb. Coyotes generally pose a very low risk to people and behavioral issues can be managed by protecting pets, removing food sources, and hazing. Despite widespread efforts to reduce coyote numbers, coyotes have managed to survive and thrive among human populations. Killing coyotes disrupts population structure, and may cause more coyotes to breed and have larger litters. Other coyotes can and will quickly fill into vacated habitat from adjacent areas. A long-term campaign to continue to remove coyotes from urban areas would be costly, dangerous, and ultimately unsuccessful.
Learn more about why relocation and indiscriminate removal plans don't work here.
1. A special permit to relocate a coyote is theoretically possible, but would not be issued for a coyote that is habituated. It would be irresponsible to pass the buck and release this coyote elsewhere and the coyote would be likely to die in an unfamiliar place with established coyotes already present.
It is extremely rare for habituation to get to the point in which lethal removal is appropriate. If a coyote has become so habituated that it's a threat to the community, the coyote may be killed (lethally removed). Lethal removal can be effective for eliminating individual troublesome coyotes, but it does not help reduce local populations. Lethal removal in urban areas is also a significant logistical and safety challenge. In addition, identifying and removing the specific coyote displaying worrisome behavior is generally very difficult. In Oregon, state wildlife officials promote sensible coexistence approaches to help keep the resident coyotes from ever getting to the extreme behavioral issues that would require lethal removal. (ODFW's recommendations)
Removing Coyotes from Cities
Some people may want all or many coyotes removed from an urban area, thinking that they don’t “belong” in a city or suburb. Coyotes generally pose a very low risk to people and behavioral issues can be managed by protecting pets, removing food sources, and hazing. Despite widespread efforts to reduce coyote numbers, coyotes have managed to survive and thrive among human populations. Killing coyotes disrupts population structure, and may cause more coyotes to breed and have larger litters. Other coyotes can and will quickly fill into vacated habitat from adjacent areas. A long-term campaign to continue to remove coyotes from urban areas would be costly, dangerous, and ultimately unsuccessful.
Learn more about why relocation and indiscriminate removal plans don't work here.
1. A special permit to relocate a coyote is theoretically possible, but would not be issued for a coyote that is habituated. It would be irresponsible to pass the buck and release this coyote elsewhere and the coyote would be likely to die in an unfamiliar place with established coyotes already present.
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