Fencing can reduce coyote predation

By Al Cooke, Extension Agent
Posted Sunday, June 22, 2008

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Pittsboro, NC - Animal control experts out west suggest that "Most coyotes readily cross over, under, or through conventional livestock fences. A coyote's response to a fence is influenced by various factors, including the coyote's experience and motivation for crossing the fence.

Total exclusion of all coyotes by fencing, especially from large areas, is highly unlikely since some eventually learn to either dig deeper or climb higher to defeat a fence. Good fences, however, can be important in reducing predation, as well as increasing the effectiveness of other damage control methods (such as snares, traps, or guarding animals)." A wildlife specialist who did his graduate work studying coyotes once told me that "the dumbest coyote is smarter than the smartest dog."

That is not to discourage anyone from fencing to exclude coyotes. It's just to suggest that fencing 5 acres can run into some money and that it's a good idea to do it well the first time. There are guidelines and diagrams for suitable fencing as well as other components of an integrated approach at this website: www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wild/pdf/wildlife/COYOTES.PDF

Note that toxicants and fumigants included in this publication are NOT legal in North Carolina. There is no closed hunting season for coyotes; trapping is limited to other game trapping seasons.