We heard a pack of coyotes tonight. *Update* All is well!

[Wolf-Kim]

I know hearing the howls are creepy, but just think, this pack has been here before. Really! Just because you heard them for the first time tonight, doesn't mean they just moved in.

Looks like it's time for you to break out the hardwire and electric fence. If you have several acres, post an advertisement on Craigslist. Simply tell hunters that if they agree to sign a waiver relieving you of all liability you will allow them to hunt coyotes on your land. It sounds like you are begging for pest control, but many places have an open season on coyote while all other prey is off limits. It gives hunting hobbyists something to do with their spare time. It is a win-win situation between you and the hunter.

ALTHOUGH! I wouldn't eradicate this pack, UNTIL they actually kill or take an interest in your chicks. Packs raise their young and every pack is a little different because animals are individuals and often have their own quirks. If you haven't had an issue with them yet, it is better to keep this pack than it is to eraditicate this pack and have the next pack move in and find chicken is the top of their prey list. Does that make sense?

-Kim

 

[cassie]

We hear coyotes almost EVERY night. They never bother anything though. The dogs tell them to just keep going. To my knowlege we have never lost anything to a coyote. We have goats, chickens, and peacocks.

 

[rufus]

The howling still gives me the willies. We used to hear them when I was a kid at the ranch. Sometimes so close, they must have been in the yard.

The only thing worse is the cry of the mountain lion.

Rufus

 

[Judy]

We hear them howling every now and then. Cool sound. I've mostly lost chickens to fox, though. I guess the coyotes find enough to eat without coming close to people; we don't see them, just hear them.

Not saying they are not a threat, of course. I hope you are as fortunate as we have been with them.

I put up electric fence anyway.

 

[Judy]

Bear and mountain lion scare me a lot worse! None around here, that I know of.

Well, they did kill a black bear downtown, about 25 miles from me, a couple of years ago....

 

[JewellFarm]

Vibes sent......see them yet? LOL

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Sorry everyone, we had big morning plans and I wasn't able to go online. But everyone was safe and sound. As soon as I unlocked one of the cages my Sumatra pullet squawked as if to say, "Get me outta here!!!" And flew into the yard.

Okay, so lockdown isn't fun, but it's necessary.

I know we have coyotes in the area. We just don't seem to hear them too often. I looked around this mroning because it had rained before we heard the howls and didn't rain until this afternoon. I found no tracks or any signs of attempted forced entry. And my hens seemed totally fine when I let everyone in the run to eat. Our coop is small and tight, but very safe. I just wish there was more space.

Thank you all for your vibes! I'm going to go ahead and put the chicks inside again tonight.

 

[MysticScorpio82]

The coyotes may have just been passing through the area. We have coyotes around, however they only come close to our property (close enough to hear them howling and yapping anyway) every spring and fall, then they move off into another part of their territory.

I agree hearing them is creepy...of course for me it is almost terrifying because my father tramatized me and my brother as kids. He let us watch American werewolf in london when I was 3 as well as other horror movies, and then whenever I would act up he would put us outside in the middle of the night, howl and tell us the wolves were coming to eat us....

Needless to say my brother and I still have issues....

 

[AmyJ]

I just realized you are from Orange County NY, Polish Princess. Hi nieghbor lol! We hear the coyotes quite a bit here too. We are in the town of Newburgh.They have been pretty close at times, but weve never seen them, just heard them and it does put you on edge. There was also some black bear sightings near us too a few weeks ago.They werent letting the kids out to play at the school just to be on the safe side.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Hey neighbor!

Yeah, I remember last year we had a fox 'visit' our woods just trotting on by and I was busy holding my Silkie. Of course, Mr. Fox saw he wasn't going to get a friendly welcome here and, the shy creatures they are, took off. Never saw his face again. Another time we had a hawk attack my Jap bantam but her lovely roo jumped the hawk and ran away. We found him hiding with his lady a few minutes later. No hawk attacks after that either. Plainly said, we've had lots of luck. These just seem to be random occurances.

One of the school teachers told us that he was drivng to a farmer's market and saw a black bear cross the street. We do see them around often though, but we never hear about them messing with people's livestock. Or children.

At first, I thought the howling was a few of our distant neighbor's dogs barking it up. But when I noticed these were actual howls I thought uh-oh.

We haven't been bothered by the coyotes beore. If they are around, they haven't taken much interest in our birds, pig, or goats. I've never actually seen them either.