Hobbies And Interests
Instructions
Put a fence around your property to deter coyotes and foxes. Both animals are fairly agile, with the larger coyotes being capable of leaping up to four feet in the air. A well-installed wire fence of at least that height, reinforced with electric wire at the top or a roll bar at the bottom, should work.
Limit the amount of garbage in your yard that is accessible to animals. Make sure the lids are firmly fixed on your trash cans. Don't leave pet food or water outside your house at night. Clean up any leftover food. Use a squirrel-proof bird feeder, as squirrels at bird tables are known to be easy prey for urban coyotes. Never deliberately feed coyotes or foxes.
Make sure chicken coops and other outdoor pet enclosures are inaccesible to predators, especially when you are not around. Wire fencing up to two feet below the ground will prevent foxes or coyotes from digging underneath the enclosure. A strong wire cover over the enclosure should keep a predator from jumping inside.
Don't grow crops in your garden that are likely to attract rabbits. Aside from the need to avoid coyotes, red foxes have moved to urban areas in Illinois primarily because of the abundance of cottontail rabbits there. Rabbits are a favorite meal for foxes, and foxes and coyotes prey on small rodents. To guard against mice living in or around your house ensure that bird seed is not left lying about, as this can be a useful nesting material.
If all else fails, call in a nuisance wildlife control operator. This is only recommended if a particular coyote or fox has displayed aggressive behavior toward a human or domestic animals. For a fee the control operator will trap the animal and remove it from your property.