Fwd: Fw: DEC Issues Guidance to Avoid Conflicts With Coyotes - A New DEC Press Release

You are subscribed to receive updates from DEC. Links to receive help or to change your preferences are provided below. Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. DEC Issues Guidance to Avoid Conflicts With Coyotes The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today issued guidance on preventing conflicts with coyotes. With the onset of warmer weather, many of New York's resident coyotes are setting up dens for soon-to-arrive pups. Coyotes are well adapted to suburban and even urban environments but usually avoid contact with people. However, conflicts with people and pets can occur as coyotes tend to be territorial around den sites during the spring through mid-summer as they forage almost constantly to provide food for their young. To minimize the chance that conflicts between people and coyotes occur, it is important that coyotes' natural fear of people is maintained. Below are recommended steps to reduce or prevent conflicts from occurring: Do not feed coyotes and discourage others from doing so. Unintentional food sources attract coyotes and other wildlife and increase risks to people and pets. To reduce risks: Do not feed pets outside. Make any garbage inaccessible to coyotes and other animals. Fence or enclose compost piles so they are not accessible to coyotes. Eliminate availability of bird seed. Concentrations of birds and rodents that come to feeders can attract coyotes. If you see a coyote(s) near your birdfeeder, clean up waste seed and spillage to remove the attractant. Do not allow coyotes to approach people or pets. Teach children to appreciate coyotes from a distance. If you see a coyote, be aggressive in your behavior - stand tall, and hold arms out to look large. If a coyote lingers for too long, then make loud noises, wave your arms, throw sticks and stones. Do not allow pets to run free. Supervise all outdoor pets to keep them safe from coyotes and other wildlife, especially at sunset and at night. Small dogs and cats are especially vulnerable to coyotes. Regulated hunting and trapping increases the "fear" coyotes have towards people. Fencing your yard may deter coyotes. The fence should be tight to the ground, preferably extending six inches below ground level, and taller than 4 feet. Remove brush and tall grass from around your home to reduce protective cover for coyotes. Coyotes are typically secretive and like areas where they can hide. Contact your local police department and NYSDEC regional office for assistance if you notice that coyotes are exhibiting "bold" behaviors and have little or no fear of people. Seeing a coyote occasionally throughout the year is not evidence of bold behavior. Ask your neighbors to follow these same steps. The Eastern coyote is a firmly established wildlife species in New York. As a predator it is an integral part of our ecosystems, from rural farmlands and forests to populated suburban and urban areas. In most cases, coyotes avoid people as much as possible and provide many exciting opportunities and benefits to New Yorkers through observation, photography, hunting and trapping; their howling and yipping at night can provide a haunting but harmless reminder of wildlife in our midst. However, if coyotes learn to associate people with food (such as, garbage or pet food), they may lose their natural fear of humans, and the potential for close encounters or conflicts increases dramatically. It is important to keep pets safe. Cats allowed to roam free are at risk from many different factors including domestic dogs and cars. To protect your cat from coyotes and other hazards, and to help protect nesting birds that cats often prey on, keep your cat indoors, or allow it outside only under supervision. Owners of small dogs also have cause for concern. Small dogs are at greatest risk of being harmed or killed when coyotes are being territorial during denning and pup-rearing. Small dogs should not be left unattended in backyards at night and should remain supervised. Coyotes may approach small dogs along streets at night near natural areas, even in the presence of dog owners. Be alert of your surroundings and take precautions such as carrying a flashlight or a walking stick to deter coyotes. Owners of large and medium sized dogs have less to worry about, but should still take precautions. If coyotes are seen repeatedly during the daytime in a human-populated area or in close proximity to residences, follow the above recommendations to reduce or prevent potential problems. If coyote behavior remains unchanged or becomes threatening, please report this to the local DEC office, as this may indicate that some individual coyotes have lost their fear of people and there may be a greater risk that a problem could occur. For additional information about the Eastern Coyote and preventing conflicts with coyotes, visit the DEC website: Eastern Coyote Coyote Conflicts Feeding Wildlife: a wrong choice Tips to Eliminate Wildlife Conflicts   Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. Please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com if you have questions or problems with the subscription service. This service is provided to you by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. We respect your right to privacy and welcome your feedback. Connect with DEC on Facebook and Twitter This email was sent to nyswma@yahoo.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation · 625 Broadway · Albany, NY 12233 · (518) 402-8013

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