Edina Police Encourage Increased Coyote Hazing
December kicked off coyote mating and breeding season, which means the suburban dwellers are changing their behavior.
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Coyotes are expected to show an increased presence in Edina in the coming months, with the Edina Police Department reporting mating season for the creatures brings about a change in their behavior.
Residents are encouraged to take extra precautions to ensure the safety of family pets, as Animal Control Officer Tim Hunter said even large dogs can be targeted by aggressive coyotes.
"The most important things residents can do to keep their pets safe it to supervise time spent outdoors," said Hunter. "And if residents ever happen to see a coyote, they should do whatever they can to scare them away."
Hazing involves moving the targeted animals out of an area or discouraging undesirable behavior. To successfully haze coyotes, residents are instructed to make as much noise as possible and throw small projectiles—sticks, cans, tennis balls or small rocks—at coyotes. It the animal doesn't immediately leave the area, residents are encouraged to chase it away.
Hunter said hazing has been successful in decreasing the coyote presence in other metropolitan areas and should help lower the number of coyote-related incidents in Edina.
The typical coyote mating season extends until March, through Hunter noted it's important for residents to always keep on eye on their pets outdoors the remainder of the year.
Residents are also encouraged to make sure their garbage cans are secured and closed, which has the added bonus of keeping raccoons at bay.
For more information, contact Hunter at 952-826-0494 or visit www.EdinaMN.gov/Police.
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Michele Sit
11:05 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
Wish the city would come up with a better plan than encouraging residents to "haze" the coyotes. There has to be a program to remove the coyotes before they successfully breed and we have an even bigger problem. We have a pack of six living in our wetlands and they boldly trot up the driveway when we are outside. Something needs to be done by the city to remove them.
Mac
8:12 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Is there an online map that marks the sighting? Are paintball markers ok'd for hazing?
Corinne Bowers
12:34 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2013
I was walking with my sheltie on West Minnehaha Pkwy between Lyndale and Nicollet at noon on Tuesday Jan 8th and saw a large coyote on the path next to the creek. Heads-up to pet owners, this was a mid day sighting, and the coyote was calmly strolling down the path. I often see pet owners there, allowing their dogs to run off-leash in the creek. I think a sign should be put up, notifying people of coyotes in the area, similar to what St. Louis Park has. I'm not sure why we are expected to tolerate these wild animals when we know they are threats to our pets and are capable of hurting people/children. If there were a loose dog such as a pit bull running wild it would be contained, yet the coyotes are tolerated.
Mike B.
1:05 pm on Saturday, February 9, 2013
A vocal few residents seem overly afraid of coyotes, which doesn't make sense. Coyotes are a natural, welcome addition to the environment, and help keep the rodent population down. It is a waste of police resources to spend time (seminars, public meetings, etc.) addressing the irrational fear of coyotes.
And the only pets who seem to be the coyotes' meals are the small "toy" dogs, who are so fragile and afraid of their own shadows that they should not be outside anyway.
J Harvey
2:45 pm on Tuesday, February 5, 2013
On 2/5/13 Just saw a coyote in our backyard (66th and Naomi Drive) - about 20 minutes from now the kids will be getting off school. Called police and animal control. I've never seen one before - this was not a small animal...I'd say 45 to 50 pounds.
D Wright
11:30 pm on Friday, February 8, 2013
I saw it too-looked like a cross between a miniature horse (because it trotted) a fox and a wolf. Around 66th and Kenney Place-I have never seen one either-very strange looking-but I know that's what it was-it was wildly trotting around in people's back yards.
Sandy Radeke
2:37 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013
Judi, I didn't realize you saw one in your back yard. I knew someone on Warren had seen one but hoped it was farther away. I heard one attacked someone's pet over on Meadow Ridge.