Coyotes in Colorado Springs: When a Native Predator Becomes a Problem

Coyotes are one of the most adaptable predators in North America. They are intelligent, highly social within family groups, and capable of exploiting almost any food source available to them -- rodents, rabbits, fruit, garbage, pet food, and small pets. Their adaptability is exactly what makes them successful in urban environments and exactly what makes a food-conditioned coyote a persistent problem.

They are primarily crepuscular -- most active at dawn and dusk -- but urban coyotes frequently shift to more nocturnal activity patterns in response to human activity. Sightings during daylight hours are not automatically a sign of rabies or illness in coyotes the way they might be with raccoons or skunks, though unusually bold behavior around people is always worth taking seriously.

Coyotes mate in late winter, with pups born in spring. During denning season -- roughly April through June -- coyotes become significantly more territorial and defensive. A coyote that is normally avoidant may become aggressive near a den site during this period. Pups begin ranging widely by late summer, which is when juvenile coyotes are most commonly encountered in residential areas as they establish their own territories.

Coyote packs operate within defined home ranges and will defend those ranges against other coyotes. Lethal removal of a territorial coyote often results in replacement by another animal from outside the territory, which is one of the reasons targeted removal without addressing the underlying attractants rarely produces lasting results.

Coyotes are protected under Colorado state law, and trapping or killing them requires proper licensing and authorization. That rules out DIY removal. That said, there is a legitimate and effective set of hazing and deterrence practices that homeowners can and should use to manage coyote conflict before it escalates to the point of requiring professional intervention.

What you can try:

• Hazing. Hazing means making coyotes feel unwelcome and unsafe around humans and residential areas. When you encounter a coyote, do not retreat -- stand your ground, make yourself large, make loud noise, and throw objects toward it. The goal is to reinforce natural wariness. Hazing only works if it is consistent -- a coyote that gets hazed by one person and fed by another does not learn the right lesson.
• Never feed coyotes, intentionally or otherwise. This is the single most important thing a homeowner can do. Unsecured trash, pet food left outside, fallen fruit, and accessible compost all constitute food sources. A coyote that associates your property with food will return to it indefinitely.
• Secure small pets. Do not leave small dogs or cats outside unattended, particularly at dawn, dusk, or overnight. A coyote-proof enclosure for backyard poultry means hardware cloth on all sides including the top and a buried apron to prevent digging under.
• Coyote-proof fencing. A fence that is at least 6 feet tall with a coyote roller or outward-angled extension at the top will deter most coyotes. Standard 4-foot fences are not adequate -- coyotes clear them easily.
• Motion-activated deterrents. Lights, sprinklers, and noise devices can discourage coyotes from frequenting specific areas of your yard, particularly for properties near open space.

Where DIY falls short: Hazing and deterrence work well for maintaining appropriate coyote behavior in areas where coyotes are not yet food-conditioned. Once a coyote has become bold, is actively preying on pets, or is showing aggression toward people, deterrence alone is not a realistic solution. At that point professional assessment and in some cases removal is the right call, and that requires proper licensing and coordination with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

K2 Kritter Solutions assesses coyote conflict situations throughout the Colorado Springs area, identifies what is driving the problem, and determines the appropriate course of action. We handle removal when it is warranted and do it in compliance with Colorado wildlife law.

If you are losing pets or livestock, dealing with a bold or aggressive coyote, or seeing concerning behavior near your home, call us at (719) 358-1856 or fill out our contact form. We will give you a straight assessment of the situation and what your options are.