Curious question about coyotes

[MagsC]

I hope this is the right place to put this.
Usually around my family's place we hear coyotes every night or into the early morning.
Lately they seem to be absent or at least laying low.
No one is hunting them around the area.
If a larger predator moves in, does it chase the coyotes out?
There have been sightings of a cougar, but I dont know if that would scare them off.
Its just a little odd so I wanted to ask the question.

 

[horsejody]

It's not uncommon for the activity to wane. They usually make more noise during breeding season, then they really make a lot of noise when the babies come out of the den.

 

[MagsC]

Thank you. I think there must be a den fairly close to the family place because we usually hear them a lot.

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

We have a very large number of coyotes around our property. I see them on a regular basis and they are usually very LOUD at night, but it seems in the last month or so we haven't heard them hardly at all. I'm guessing its due to their mating/breeding patterns.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

We have cougars and coyotes. One predator is not going to push out the other, because usually there are large territories covered by small numbers of top predators like cougars. Withing the cougars area, coyotes can also hunt without directly competing with the cougar. The number of predators you have tends to depend more on the food supply than anything else.

 

[Caincando1]

Are you sure nobody is hunting them? Coyote hunters can be as stealthy as their quary.

What part of MN are you in? I'm in South East MN in Dodge County.

 

[katharinad]

We have 3 packs around our property. We are in the middle of forest land with miles and miles of nothing. We even see them in the daytime. Sometimes they are really loud at night and then you hear nothing for weeks. They are usually loud when the full moon is out. People always want to get rid of them, but they are also beneficial. 95% of their diet is rodents, and I'm glad for everyone they eat. Our property is fenced and cross fenced. We had one or two making it into our meadow, so we went and fixed the fence holes. Filled them and put plenty of old tree branches and logs against it. Haven't really had one in the meadow since. Only one actually came in afterwards, but it turned out it was the cow gate. It just slipped through the bars. We put wire over the entire gate, and that has taken care of that. We now inspect our fence line once per month, no diggings at all. Haven't had a coyote in the meadow for over 5years now. The coyotes come to the fence all the time, even in the daytime. They are trying to play with our dogs. Kind of funny to see coyotes throw their paws down on the ground and then they all run up and down the fence line. Our 4 dogs are barking like crazy while running up and down. Eventually the coyote takes off. I would not be to concerned, if your bird area is tight and save. Coyotes are part of nature, and I enjoy them as much as my birds, dogs, and single cat. Please educate yourself about them, and do not only they them as the evil thing around. On the other hand. I find one really close to my birds, it will see some lead coming. We have 22 acres and the cross fencing does help a lot. Had a bad raccoon problem. Sadly we had to kill all of them. There was just no way to keep them out and they are very destructive too. They had no problem challenging our dogs. They are that bold and dangerous. Oh, before I forget. I don't worry much about rabies. Rabies is relative rare and your fish and wildlife office can tell you if they have any know cases. I do not kill because someone said it may have rabies without seeing the animal.
Katharina

 

[MagsC]

Thanks all. We are in southeastern Minnesota, Goodhue county.
Everyone is probably right, that we arent hearing them due to the season and possibly hunters.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Quote:
Please be careful with your dogs. The coyotes are not trying to play - they are trying to get your dogs to follow them and then the rest of the pack ambushes and kills the dogs.

It is a very common and successful coyote tactic.

 

[MagsC]

Thats true. I have heard of people losing dogs that way when the coyotes lure them off.