By Michele Byers
When you think of suburban wildlife, you likely picture deer, squirrels and common birds like cardinals. In northwestern New Jersey, you can add bears. But the latest creature looking for a slice of the American dream in the ‘burbs is the coyote. Originally from the southwest United States, in recent years coyotes have expanded their range throughout the Northeast, including New Jersey.
Like most suburban wildlife, coyotes are extremely adaptable and tolerant of human activities. They normally eat rabbits, mice, birds and other small animals even young deer all abundant in our suburban neighborhoods. Being opportunists, however, they will take whatever they can find: garbage, pet food even the occasional small pet. In the absence of larger predators, coyotes likely have claimed top spot in your local suburban food chain.
Though coyote sightings are growing increasingly common, the animals can be quite elusive. But they also can be brazen. You may have heard about coyotes attacking small children in Monmouth County last spring. This is an extremely unusual event and unprecedented in New Jersey, but also a reminder that coyotes are wild animals.
Biologists are wondering whether evolution or mixed breeding is at the root of the adaptation to heavily populated suburbs. A current New Jersey Fish and Wildlife study is analyzing the DNA of New Jersey coyotes for answers.
The coyote is one of the few wild animals whose vocalizations you can commonly hear. At night, coyotes both howl (a high wavering cry) and emit a series of short, high-pitched yips. The first time you hear a coyote in New Jersey, you may feel a tingling fear of primitive danger, but to a lover of nature, hearing the howl of a coyote is a thrill. Howls help coyotes keep in touch with each other. And the scientific name for coyote, “canis latrans,” means barking dog. The bark is thought to be a threat display when a coyote is protecting a den or a kill. Huffing is used to call pups without making a lot of noise.
Coyotes mark their territories and use their calls to defend this territory. They can easily leap an 8-foot fence or wall. They don’t hibernate, and because of their secretive nature, few coyotes are ever seen.
Those of us living near coyotes should use some common sense. Coyotes may become habituated to people, especially as a source of food, and lose their natural fear of humans. Never feed a coyote, even though it may look cute enough to be a pet. Although normally wary of people, coyotes can be threatening. Unintentional sources of food and water like garbage, bird seed and pet food should be kept inside, or in carefully sealed containers. In fact, these practices are the same ones you should use in New Jersey’s bear country.
Other tips for living with coyotes include: Do not leave small pets out at night. Motion-sensitive outdoor lighting can help scare coyotes off at night. If you spot a coyote on your property, reinforce its natural skittishness by making loud noises or spraying it with a garden hose.
Coyotes, along with all of New Jersey’s wildlife, are part of what makes this state we’re in a special place to live.
You can learn more about coyotes at www.desertusa.com/june96/du_cycot.html or from Defenders of Wildlife at www.defenders.org.
Michele Byers is executive director of the New Jersey Conservation Foundation. For more information, contact her at [email protected], or visit NJCF’s Web site at www.njconservation.org.
