Urban Coyotes

[ScottyP]

I live in Urbandale and my yard backs up to a green space/wooded area near 80-35. There have been coyotes reported in the area, but they haven't been much of an issue.

Recently, I've spotted a few crossing my yard during the daytime, which is a bit unusual. In the past, I would only see them early in the morning. Should that be a cause for concern? I don't have pets, but I do have young children who play in the back yard.

 

[awd4cy]

I would say a bit of a concern if you are seeing packs travel through. Those dang things are getting worse. Need more hunting on them. I am surprised you are seeing them move in packs in middle of day. Would think that would be very unusual.

 

[ackatch]

They're bad in Waukee too, so much so that it's an ongoing joke in the Waukee Talkee Facebook page that all things being built are either a car wash, a bank, or a coyote sanctuary.

 

[MJ29]

Is It Normal For Coyotes To Come Out During The Day? – Westchester Wildlife

westchesterwildlife.com

 

[ScottyP]

I would say a bit of a concern if you are seeing packs travel through. Those dang things are getting worse. Need more hunting on them. I am surprised you are seeing them move in packs in middle of day. Would think that would be very unusual.

usually it is just a single one going through my yard and not a pack.

 

[awd4cy]

usually it is just a single one going through my yard and not a pack.

That’s good. I wouldn’t worry about a single one.

 

[JP4CY]

Have seen a lot more coyotes this year and especially near areas of water.

 

[awd4cy]

I think numbers on everything are high. I’m surprised all the time how much more skunks, raccoons and foxes that I see. Have even seen bobcat this year.

 

[HFCS]

There's a massive nature preserve park near me that's simply their ideal habitat, but I notice this pattern in the smaller urban setting parks:
- More and more rabbits in the park
- Then one year where there are dozens of coyotes in the park
- Then a couple years or hardly any rabbits or coyotes
- Repeat cycle

 

[ISUTex]

I've seen a million rabbits this summer.

 

[NorthCyd]

I would say a bit of a concern if you are seeing packs travel through. Those dang things are getting worse. Need more hunting on them. I am surprised you are seeing them move in packs in middle of day. Would think that would be very unusual.

There is very little in the way of protections for coyote in the state. People can hunt coyote pretty much at will, but the pelts are worthless so there isn't much reason to do it outside of target practice. Same reason people don't bother to trap them much either. If you don't have small pets or livestock they are not much of a concern.

 

[awd4cy]

There is very little in the way of protections for coyote in the state. People can hunt coyote pretty much at will, but the pelts are worthless so there isn't much reason to do it outside of target practice. Same reason people don't bother to trap them much either. If you don't have small pets or livestock they are not much of a concern.

I didn’t realize that one is year round. That’s good at least. Too many of them is definitely an issue.

 

[Gonzo]

usually it is just a single one going through my yard and not a pack.

We live in Warren County and our house backs up to a big open field with a few large groves of trees. We hear them every once in a while, but usually at dusk or later in the evenings. Just seeing one doesn't mean there's not others nearby. We've had our labs out back on their tie out before and seen them facing off with a coyote who was out of their range, just standing and staring. Our labs were quite a bit larger. But from what I understand one thing they'll do is try luring a dog away to go after them to where the pack is waiting to ambush. Not saying that's the case with you, but the times we've only seen one, we've heard several with those high yelps.

 

[NorthCyd]

I didn’t realize that one is year round. That’s good at least. Too many of them is definitely an issue.

Not only year round, but you can use trucks, cb radios, and higher powered rifles to hunt them. You aren't supposed to spotlight them but you can use night vision gear. The state is fine with you killing as many as you want.

 

[ScottyP]

A neighbor up the street had a small dog that was taken a few years ago. they left their dog outside unattended at night for long durations so I wasn't surprised to hear that it had happened.

 

[MJ29]

A neighbor up the street had a small dog that was taken a few years ago. they left their dog outside unattended at night for long durations so I wasn't surprised to hear that it had happened.

I feel bad for the dog, but not for the humans who made the decision to leave their dog outside alone.

 

[ScottyP]

I feel bad for the dog, but not for the humans who made the decision to leave their dog outside alone.

Agreed. it was frustrating. The dog should not have been outside by itself that late at night.

 

[Letterkenny]

We live in Warren County and our house backs up to a big open field with a few large groves of trees. We hear them every once in a while, but usually at dusk or later in the evenings. Just seeing one doesn't mean there's not others nearby. We've had our labs out back on their tie out before and seen them facing off with a coyote who was out of their range, just standing and staring. Our labs were quite a bit larger. But from what I understand one thing they'll do is try luring a dog away to go after them to where the pack is waiting to ambush. Not saying that's the case with you, but the times we've only seen one, we've heard several with those high yelps.

I think it would extremely unlikely that even a pack of coyotes would risk taking on a 50+lb dog. It is creepy as **** when a pack of them is yelping in the dark though.

 

[awd4cy]

I think it would extremely unlikely that even a pack of coyotes would risk taking on a 50+lb dog. It is creepy as **** when a pack of them is yelping in the dark though.

Oh they 100% would. I’ve seen them try to prey on an adult deer in an open soybean field. They are pretty fearless in packs.

 

[ScottyP]

I think it would extremely unlikely that even a pack of coyotes would risk taking on a 50+lb dog. It is creepy as **** when a pack of them is yelping in the dark though.

Their howling will initially sound like sirens in the distance. I usually would hear them in the early morning (~5am)