Southwestern Pennsylvania is home to the Eastern Coyote, an adult that grows to a length of about 48 inches and generally weighs 35 to 40 pounds. Their coloring is a light to reddish brown and can be easily mistaken for a fox or a German Shepard dog. A coyote’s face is more defined and has sharper lines than that of the German Shepard. Coyotes are in every community in Pennsylvania including all twelve communities supported by the South Hills Cooperative Animal Control (SHCAC).
During the fall, coyotes can be seen in pairs. Fall is the mating season for many animals including coyotes. Their young tend to be born in the following February or March. Litter sizes generally range from two to eight pups. Due in part to the abundance of food and relatively low amount of natural predators, we have experienced very small litters, with the majority of births only resulting in two offspring. Females will likely be more visible in April, May, and June as they teach their young how to hunt for food. Yelping, barking, and howling are more common then as mothers communicate with their little ones. This increase in sound produced by the animals general garners more attention from us and results in an increase in reported sightings. After the young are raised, they move out on their own.
Unlike other areas of the country, food for the coyote is more than abundant in and about wooded suburbia. Due to this, they do not remain in groups or hunt in packs. Their primary food sources are small game such as rabbits, squirrels, and young birds – including turkey. Coyotes are also excellent scavengers and will get into our garbage for an easy meal. While people complain about squirrels getting into their bird feeders, they should take note that putting out any morsel draws many members of the food chain closer to their homes, be it an annoying rodent or something a little larger that may feed on the intended or unintended recipient of the food.
Like small game, cats and small dogs can appear as a potential meal. Any domestic animal under ten pounds should be supervised when outside. Cats should not be left to wander the outdoors as it is both dangerous for the pet and illegal for their human companion. Owners should take extra caution in the early morning and the early evening when coyotes usually hunt. Avoid letting your pets linger in the same area for extended periods of time, especially unattended. The constant presence of a potential food source at the same place may alter a coyote’s behavior and hunting pattern. Just being human, doing human things, is generally enough to discourage the coyote from approaching. Opening and closing doors, turning on lights, and just moving about making noise discourage such animals from coming near. Humans, for the most part, are at the top of the food chain. The coyotes recognize our presence as such and avoid contact and confrontation.
If you do confront a coyote, there are several key things to do and not do. Face the coyote, do not turn your back or run. Running only makes you look like scared prey. Second, make loud noises. As mentioned earlier, coyotes avoid human contact and just being a loud human will drive them away. Finally, stay between your children/animals and the coyotes. Being or appearing big will deter the coyote from taking the risk of approaching you.
To date in the entire state of Pennsylvania, there has not been a human attacked by a coyote – adult or child. They are wild animals, but they are very timid and shy. Unless cornered, they have not posed a threat to humans. SHCAC does not attempt to capture coyotes or fox. These animals are game animals and are covered under state law. Using traps large enough or specific to catch such animals would put unsuspecting domestic animals or unattended children at unnecessary risk to injury or death. Any concerns about such animals should be directed to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.