Town of New Castle. DRAFT Coyote Response Plan

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1 Town of New Castle DRAFT Coyote Response Plan prepared by: Stephen W. Coleman Environmental Coordinator and Charles Ferry Chief of Police May 14,

2 Introduction The intent of the Coyote Response Plan is to provide practical guidelines to assist Town residents to live safely with coyotes and make an informed decision when dealing with a coyote problem on their property. The Plan is designed to reduce potential conflicts by promoting awareness and knowledge of the role coyote s play in the New Castle environment and informing property owners of New York State Laws regarding coyotes. The Plan provides the Town s coyote management protocols and responses that may be used when specific coyote/human interactions and conflicts occur. The safety of the Town s residents is the main priority. The Town of New Castle recognizes the environmental benefit of maintaining natural wildlife populations and habitats, and our existing regulations provide protection of the Town s rich and varied natural resources and ecosystems. The Coyote Plan provides guidelines and strategies for safely coexisting with coyotes and should help citizens make an informed decision when they encounter a coyote problem on their property. Background In 2014, the New Castle Town Board created two committees to review the extent of coyote/human interactions within the Town of New Castle and to submit a report of their findings to the Town Board. The committees, which were comprised of Town residents, submitted their reports to the Town Board on February 10, The New Castle Coyote Management Task Force prepared a report titled Town of New Castle Coyote Management Plan, and the Coyote Awareness & Safety Advisory Committee submitted a report titled Coyote Safety and Coexistence Plan. Both of these reports were reviewed and considered in the development of this Coyote Response Plan. The Eastern Coyote (general biology, food habits, reproduction, behavior and activity) See Appendix 1 for information provided by the New Castle Environmental Conservation Committee. Coyote/Human Conflicts In general, it is unlikely that coyotes will approach humans or become aggressive towards people directly; however, where aggressive behavior occurs is often involving people s cats and dogs. Coyotes are naturally attracted to pets, and coyotes that approach pets, pose an immediate risk to the safety of pets. This scenario, also creates the potential for harm to people s safety. Coyote attacks on people however, are extremely rare. Coyotes have adapted well to New Castle s environment and have been successful in denning and raising pups in close proximity to residences and public spaces, despite the presence of people, their pets and extensive road networks. This success demonstrates the coyote s adaptability and ability to co-exist with humans. As coyotes become more acclimated to living adjacent to people s residences, there is a higher potential for coyotes to lose their fear of people, increasing the possibility of coyote/human conflicts. 2

3 It is our job as a Town government to raise awareness of this phenomenon and work with the community to maintain the natural fear that coyotes have of humans. Habituation of Coyotes towards Humans Coyotes are very adaptable and have come to accept humans as part of the suburban environment that they live in. The more comfortable coyotes become of people through repeated contact, the more potential exists for aggressive behavior of coyotes towards humans. One of the primary causes of habituation is the intentional and in some cases unintentional feeding of coyotes. The majority of cases nationwide of reported aggressive behavior of coyotes is attributed to feeding and/or individual coyotes that are sick or diseased. When a coyote becomes aggressive, it is often necessary to remove the problem individual. New York State Laws regarding Coyotes In New York State, coyotes are protected as a furbearing mammal. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation oversees coyotes in suburban areas. In Westchester County the trapping season for coyotes is regulated by the NYDEC. The NYDEC is also the agency that issues the required trapping licenses. NYDEC may also issue a Nuisance Wildlife Permit for trapping out of season if a coyote is threatening public safety, deemed to be a nuisance or is damaging property. Persons interested in obtaining a trapping permit or a Nuisance Wildlife Permit should contact the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation through their web site at or call The Town s Role in Managing Coyote/Human Conflicts In order to successfully co-exist, there is a need for residents to understand coyote behavior and be aware of tools and techniques that can help make coyotes maintain a healthy fear of people and their property. A coyote is a wild animal and needs to be treated as such. Coyotes should not be considered a welcome guest in people s yards. Monitoring Of Coyotes and Collecting Data on Incidents In order to assist with the management of potential coyote/human interactions, the Town of New Castle Police Department s Animal Control Warden (ACW) will track coyote incidents, not routine sightings. An interactive map will be made available as a link on the Town s website to allow residents to review information on coyote incidents and to add and review citizen self-reports of coyote sightings. The purpose of the interactive map is to provide residents the opportunity to contribute data to help our overall understanding of coyote issues throughout the Town. 3

4 Public Education Efforts A key component to help people co-exist with coyotes is for residents to be aware of the presence of coyotes in New Castle and to be pro-active keeping coyotes from becoming too comfortable around their property. The ACW/NCPD will provide information and educational materials to inform residents about New York State Law regarding the coyote trapping season and their option of obtaining a Nuisance Wildlife permit out of season under certain circumstances. The ACW/NCPD will also provide educational information and resources to keep residents informed and aware of strategies to safely co-exist with coyotes. This will include information on methods to harass coyotes, typically referred to as hazing. When done properly hazing should cause a coyote to leave the area. When done consistently hazing may help keep coyotes from becoming too comfortable around people and homes. Educational material will include information to help residents eliminate potential attractants on their property to minimize conflicts with coyotes and other wildlife. See Appendix 2 for a list of Yard Maintenance Tips for Keeping Coyotes Away provided by the New Castle Environmental Conservation Committee. Town of New Castle Coyote Management Response Plan A table has been developed that provides decision making guidelines for the handling of coyote incidents. The New Castle Police Department (NCPD) will receive all reports of coyote incidents (not sightings) and determine appropriate response. When appropriate the NCPD will refer incidents to the Animal Control Warden or in his/her absence the Environmental Coordinator (EC) who will assist with incident and assessment and follow up as needed. Coyote Incident Classification and Recommended Responses Coyote Behavior Classification Response Non-Aggressive Behaviors Coyote heard or seen moving through area (day or night) No police report. Coyote seen resting in area or entering a yard with no person present outside. No police report. Sighting Sighting If requested, ACW will provide approved education materials and information on normal coyote behavior. Citizen may document on interactive map as a sighting If requested, ACW will provide approved education materials and information on normal coyote behavior, provide hazing information to encourage people to get animal to leave, provide information regarding NY Trapping laws, Citizen may document 4

5 Coyote following or approaching a person with or without pets and no incident. Police report recommended. Coyote entering yard with people and pets present. Police report recommended. Aggressive Behaviors Coyote injures or kills unattended or unleashed pet in back yard or open area. File a police report. Coyote injures or kills pet offleash with human nearby, dog attacking coyote, or kills pet on-leash. File a police report Coyote bites human (human feeding coyote, approaching animal with pups, intervening during pet attack) Notify Police Immediately Coyote bites human (human did not encourage coyote to engage) Notify Police Immediately Encounter Encounter Unattended Pet Attack Attended Pet Attack Provoked Human Attack Unprovoked Attack on interactive map Police report should be filed. Responding Officer/ACW will provide information on pet safety, hazing techniques and NY trapping laws, ACW will monitor frequency. Citizen may document on interactive map Police report should be filed. Responding Officer/ACW will provide information on pet safety, hazing techniques and NY trapping laws. Refer to ACW for follow-up and monitor frequency. Citizen may document on interactive map File a police report. Responding Officer/ACW will provide educational resources on pet management, hazing techniques and the applicability of NY State trapping laws. Desk Officer/Responding Officer should advise pet owner to wear protection when handling the victim dog and to seek medical advice if he or she may have come in contact with the coyote s saliva. When appropriate send a targeted NIXLE alert, ACW/NCPD will add to interactive map, Refer to ACW for follow-up. Police should be immediately notified and may take steps to remove coyote. If the coyote has left the area provide information on applicable NY trapping laws, educational resources on pet management and hazing techniques ACW/NCPD will add to map, when appropriate send a targeted NIXLE alert. Follow-up by ACW. Police should be immediately notified, attack victim to seek advice of physician or EMS response, if possible lethal action used to take possession of coyote, If killed, submit to DOH for testing. If coyote not present, a trapper should be contacted asap to take possession of the problem animal. Animal if caught to be euthanized and delivered to DOH for testing. Incident posted to Nixle and social media. ACW/NCPD add to map. Follow-up by ACW. Police should be immediately notified, EMS response or attack victim to seek advice of physician, lethal action may be taken, If killed, submit coyote to DOH for testing. If coyote not present, a trapper will be contacted asap to remove the problem animal. If caught animal will be euthanized and delivered to DOH for testing. Incident posted to Nixle and social media. ACW/NCPD add to map. ACW will follow up. *The police are authorized to use lethal action against wildlife when deemed necessary to protect life and/or property 5

6 APPENDIX 1 The Eastern Coyote (general biology, food habits, reproduction, behavior and activity) The eastern coyote (Canis latrans), is common throughout the northeast and have been present in New York State since the 1930 s. Coyotes have continued to expand their range to now include most suburban and rural areas. Coyotes are part of the dog family that includes wolves and foxes. They often look similar to German shepherd dogs, yet much smaller in size. Adults weigh on average between 35 to 45 pounds. They have prominent yellow eyes and thick long fur (the thick long fur, often make them look larger than actual size). Their tails are bushy and often pointing down (a distinguishing feature from fox, whom hold their tail upright). Coyote fur color is variable from reddishblonde to dark tan streaked with black and gray. Most coyotes have a white chin and a prominent dark spot just below the base of the tail when observed from behind. Coyotes often mate for life, are devoted parents and highly communicative. Coyotes form family units, and maintain specific territories. The dominant female is the only one that usually breeds. Breeding takes place in February and March with pups born in April and May. The average litter size is 5-7 pups. Dens are usually located in steep banks, rock crevices, under brush piles, under downed trees, and may include underneath buildings such as sheds. Den sites are selected that are concealed and provide protection for the litter. The den will be active for 5-7 weeks before it is abandoned, but it is not unusual for coyotes to change den locations multiple times to protect their young. Both parents are involved in hunting to feed their young. During the summer months it is common to see family groups moving through areas. Pups mature around 9 months and are forced to disperse and leave the parents home range. Dispersal occurs usually by late October. Young mature pups will disperse and travel extensively to find vacant territory and a potential mate. Research indicates that few coyotes survive for more than years in the wild and only 3 years in urban areas. Human activity is the greatest single cause of mortality. A coyotes diet is quite varied and depends upon what is available that is easy to find, scavenge, catch and kill. Their diet includes white-tailed deer, rabbits, small mammals such as mice, raccoons, groundhogs, birds, insects and plant materials. Their diet will shift based upon what is available seasonally. During summer months, coyotes will feed extensively on berries and insects; in the fall their diet relies more heavily on small mammals; by winter they rely more on white-tailed deer. Deer killed by vehicles and other causes is an important food source for coyotes. Coyotes, like most wildlife species are opportunistic and have been known to also take small pets. Coyotes are most active at night, and early morning hours, but can also be observed during the day. Observing a coyote during the day is not that unusual within the Town as coyotes have adapted to living in residential neighborhoods. Coyotes are very vocal at night and it can often seem like more coyotes are present than is actually there. A coyote s natural behavior is to be wary of people, but they are known to be extremely adaptable, and can habituate to human presence, especially in areas where people provide a reliable source of food, or other attractive elements as part of their habitat, such as possible denning sites. 6

7 A family unit (two adults and their pups) typical territory is often several square miles. Studies have shown that individual family units may defend territories between 2 to 15 square miles in size against other coyote families. Research studies conducted by Cornell University have found that in suburban landscapes, coyote pairs inhabited natural areas at a density of 4.5 breeding pairs per 10 square miles. Home ranges averaged 2.2 square miles and were located primarily in natural forested habitats. The Town of New Castle consists of 24 square miles, and based upon the average size of territories, the number of family units that could be sustained throughout the Town is limited. Coyotes have readily adapted to living within the Town of New Castle. The Town includes several well established residential neighborhoods, parks and open spaces that provide abundant food, water and shelter. Suburban areas often provide ideal habitat for coyotes. An abundance of natural food sources are present, which includes rabbits, rodents, birds, and in many cases can include small cats and dogs. Coyotes if necessary may also feed on household garbage, pet food and plant materials from people s gardens and landscaped areas. The availability of food resources plays a significant role in regulating coyote numbers. If there are abundant food resources present, the required size of the territory needs to be much less to be able to support a family unit. Increases in Coyote Observations The attractiveness of suburban areas like the Town of New Castle, has increased the awareness of the presence of coyotes and sightings of coyotes seen throughout the town has become more frequent. Because coyotes are very mobile and cover a wide area (average of 2.2 square miles) to defend their territory, sightings of coyotes may be of the same individual as it moves through its territory. Often, observations in multiple areas contribute to the perception that there are large numbers of coyotes within the Town. It is very difficult to determine actual population estimates without detailed surveys by qualified experts. Coyotes, like most wild animals, are able to co-exist within suburban areas and in general still avoid frequent interaction and conflicts with people. APPENDIX 2 Suggested Annual Homeowner s Yard Audit to discourage coyotes: Activity Food Sources Pet Food Water Sources Bird Feeders Fallen Fruit from fruit trees Maintenance/Mitigation Measures Never intentionally feed a coyote Feed pets indoors, store all pet food securely indoors Remove water attractants, such as pet water bowls Use no-spill bird feeders. Clean up fallen seed to reduce the attractiveness to small mammals that coyotes prefer to eat Clean up fallen fruit around fruit trees to eliminate food 7

8 Compost BBQ Grills Trash Landscaping Structures/Buildings Fencing Pets source Enclose compost piles especially if using meat and dairy products as part of composting Clean up any spilled food around BBQ grills after each use Secure all outdoor trash containers with locking lids and clean containers periodically to reduce odors and smells Regularly trim vegetation around the perimeter of property to reduce hiding spaces and potential denning areas Restrict access under decks and sheds, and around wood piles that can provide cover or shelter for both coyotes and their prey Enclose property with a 6 ft. perimeter fence and make sure fence in contact with ground. To prevent digging under the fence, fence should be buried 6 inches into ground to deter digging underneath Never leave pets unattended outside, never allow pets to approach coyotes, enclose outdoor pet kennels and dog runs, walk pets on a leash no longer than 6 feet in length 8