• Keep grills and barbecues clean. Even small food scraps may attract these animals. • If possible, do not keep garbage cans out- side. Or bungee cord them shut. FOR MORE INFORMATION Living with ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS... If you fi nd a wild animal and are concerned, • As a last resort, trapping can be an effective leave it alone and call Brukner Nature Center at 937-698-6493, seven days a week, method of dealing with troublesome wildlife. 24 hours a day. The most commonly used device is a live- COYOTES trap which captures the animal physically unharmed. Traps should be checked twice a day (morning and evening) to replenish and FOX bait or to humanely deal with captured animals. Raccoons, opossums, skunks, in Miami County coyote & fox cannot be released off-site, they must be euthanized or released on the same property. Contact the ODNR Division of Wildlife (1-800-Wildlife) for additional trapping regulations. • Do not use poisons. Poisons are illegal, inhumane and may result in secondary poisoning of raptors, wild scavengers and neighborhood pets. • Native wildlife are legally protected. It is illegal for anyone to possess a native wild 5995 Horseshoe Bend Rd. animal unless permitted by the ODNR Divi- Troy, OH 45373 sion of Wildlife. Wildlife rehabilitators have a www.bruknernaturecenter.com permit to care for orphaned or injured wildlife. • Never move young from the den.

Brukner Nature Center is a non-profit, privately PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS funded organization promoting the appreciation In Ohio, coyotes and red foxes are consid- and understanding of wildlife conservation through ered a rabies vector species. Additionally, preservation, education, and rehabilitation. as a member of the dog family, coyotes and The purpose of our wildlife rehabilitation program is foxes may carry distemper, sarcoptic mange, to educate people regarding the natural history of Ohio’s wildlife, to offer help and advice when wildlife heartworm and many other common canine and people confl ict, and to care for, rehabilitate, and diseases. Keeping pets vaccinated will help release native Ohio wildlife expected to survive in prevent possible transmission. their natural environment. coyote reminds people of a small German mating season and decrease when they have Fox Reproduction A shepherd dog. A coyote weighs 20 to 40 their young. Young coyotes howl at a higher Foxes mate in January and February, and young pounds, although the average in Miami County pitch than the adults. are born in March and April. Den sites, which is 30 pounds. Coyotes have been known to vary Coyote Young are only used during breeding season for young, in color; but generally, they have a bushy tail are typically found on the sunny side of hills Coyotes mate in with a blade tip and are a yellowish gray with a or banks, along fence rows or in natural rock late winter; January whitish throat and belly. Its ears are prominent, cavities. Dens have several entrances 8 to 15 through February, and its tail is held below the back while running. inches in diameter and can be up to 75 feet in with offspring be- length. The young will leave the den at about Over 90 percent of a coy- ing born between 8 to 10 weeks and are on their own by late fall. ote’s diet is small mam- March and April. mals, but they will eat Coyote dens can birds, snakes, insects, be found along drainage ditches or fence rows, REUNITING YOUNG WITH THEIR PARENTS The likelihood of experiencing or- fi sh, fruit and vegetables. or under abandoned buildings. At about three phaned coyote or fox is relatively Coyotes are opportunistic weeks of age, the young leave the den under the low. Unlike many mammal spe- hunters, feeding primarily watch of the adults. Young coyotes are on their cies, both of these canine fami- on what is most available, own at six to nine months. such as squirrel, voles, lies raise their offspring with the care of both parents, as well as mice, rabbits and injured RED AND GRAY FOXES additional females that act as helpers. Should or sick deer. They rarely Mostly recognized a kit become separated from its den site, BNC kill prey larger than them- by their long, bushy encourages you to contact us for additional guid- selves but will scavenge reddish-black tails, ance and evaluation of each individual situation. on a fresh carcass. They red foxes are ac- are capable of taking a tually only 8 to 15 small dog or cat (less than 15 pounds), and old pounds, the size of PREVENTING PROBLEMS • Do not approach wildlife, especially coyotes or sick dogs, but rarely take supervised pets. a large cat. Red fox- and foxes. If you do encounter a coyote or es prefer forested Coyotes live in prairies, brushy areas and a fox, remember the following suggestions. areas but are now wooded edges but not in heavily wooded ar- forced to inhabit urban and suburban areas, espe- • Make loud noises. eas. They prefer suburban areas with broken cially homes that back up to fi elds or wood plots. forests. Coyotes like to travel along trails and • Clap your hands. paths or ridges and waterways. They often Red Foxes typically have a home range of about • Wave your arms. deposit feces or scent marks with urine along 10 acres in regions with great diversity, but these • Blow a whistle. the way. They are mostly active at night but areas can stretch 3 to 10 miles. They have been may be seen during the day, especially in the known to travel less when they have young. • Never move young from the nest. summer when young are more active. They • Do not encourage coyote & fox by feeding sometimes hunt in family units but are most Most fox feed on rabbits, mice, rats and birds. them. often alone or in male-female pairs. Coyotes’ They make short yaps or barks followed by a • Keep pet food and water dishes inside, es- bark and yips usually increase in power and single squall, long yells, yowls and screeches. pecially at night. pitch and end in a long, fl at howl that can During the mating season, the female will shrill carry two to three miles. They are known to and squall and the male will answer with two or • Do not allow spillage to accumulate outside howl at siren whistles. Howls increase during three short barks. of bird feeders.