They’re out there lurking, but experts say they’re not stalking.
‘They don’t stalk, they simply take advantage of their opportunities,? said Tim Reis, former Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fur Bearer Specialist and current Supervisor of the Saginaw Bay Management Unit.
Coyotes are found in just about every county in Michigan and this year alone pest removal specialist John Sullivan extricated 73 from Oxford, Brandon, and Orion townships.
‘Coyotes are everywhere in Oakland County,? Sullivan said adding that he was commissioned to remove a pair of coyotes from the Waterford area after they reportedly killed a pet cat.
‘They are opportunists whose main food source in populated areas are cats, squirrels, and rabbits,? he said. ‘They are thriving in Oakland County because the food opportunities are so abundant.?
Sullivan said the number one spot to encounter a coyote in Oxford is the open gravel pit areas. A second hot spot is the Seymour Lake and Baldwin roads area, where Sullivan regularly hears about coyote sightings from area residents.
Because the weather is currently not cold enough for coyotes to hunker down in their dens, Sullivan said they are actively searching for food, often running between six and nine miles every night looking for a meal.
‘The only time they (stay in their dens) in the winter is if it’s freezing cold or they have pups.?
Tim Reis said although coyotes cover a large amount of territory in search of food, once they find a supply, they will remain in that area until it’s diminished.
Because of urban sprawl, homeowners are reporting an increasing number of coyote sightings and human/canine conflicts.
In rural areas, a coyote’s preferred diet consists of rodents; meadow voles, mice, rabbits, and on rare occasions, injured or sick deer. Homeowners, however, are tempting the curious nature of the wild canines with bird feeders, outdoor pet feeders and loose garbage.
Because of their tolerance for human activities and adaptability to virtually all habitats, Reis said Michigan coyotes are often seen near the edges of agricultural clearings and farm buildings, following activity that could lead to a food source.
These behaviors lend to the misconception of lurking behavior, perceived by humans as stalking.
‘They are just shy, but very intelligent and curious,? he said.
Dubbed ‘Wiley? because of their opportunistic hunting habits, Reis said on occasion when tempted, the coyote will nab a free ranging chicken or cat, if one passes by.
While pest removal specialist Sullivan said he has taken at least 73 animals out of the area in 2004, Reis said it’s difficult to calculate population numbers any more because trappers were the primary means to measure animal population for the DNR, but their numbers have dwindled.
‘The fur industry is not what it used to be,? said Reis. ‘Trapping is a lot of work and if the trappers can’t make the money they are not going to make the effort.?
Despite the lack of an accurate counting method, the coyote population seems to be increasing, according to Reis.
He said there are several reasons the coyote population and its movement are on the rise, the main one being a state-sponsored agricultural program that encourages farmers to allow their fields to fill with hay. The fields then become an ideal harbor for rodents, a prime food source of coyotes.
Coyotes are a small, shy, non aggressive animal that stands 8-inches tall and weighs an average of 45 pounds. While Reis said they are not a threat to humans, safeguard your pets by not leaving them outside alone. Some other tips include:
n Do not put loose food outside near your home.
n Never approach a coyote.
n Do not feed coyotes.
n If a coyote approaches you, yell, make noise, throw objects at it, but never turn and run.
‘My argument is we are living in their territory,? said Reis. ‘We just don’t know how to live with wild life in rural areas.?