Living beside the woods has always been one of my favorite parts of our
home. The wildlife, the quiet, the sense of being tucked into nature it’s all
part of our daily rhythm. But years ago, long before my recent coyote article,
we had an encounter that hit much closer to home. A coyote stepped out of the
tree line and into our yard, and that moment changed how we approached living
next to wild land. This is the story of what happened and the practical steps
we took to keep our yard safe.
Our home is located directly next to 29 acres of woods, with a creek in
the valley. That land connects to a state park, making it an ideal habitat for
a variety of animals. We’ve always enjoyed watching the wildlife, but when a
coyote came into our yard, it was too close for comfort. We knew we needed to
act quickly, and this article explains exactly what we did to stop it from
returning.
The First Visit
When coyotes come into your yard, the best immediate response is to scare
them off. In general, coyotes are naturally fearful of humans. Most of the
time, if you wave your arms and yell, they’ll run. But in the 15 years we’ve
lived here, this was the first time a coyote had ever come this close. That
told us something was attracting it, and we needed to figure out what.
What Was Drawing the Coyote In
Coyotes eat a wide variety of foods: small animals, insects, berries, and
vegetables. I grow blueberries, Nanking cherries, and a full vegetable garden all
outdoors and easily accessible.
After talking it over, my husband and I decided we needed a deterrent to
keep the coyote from wandering into the yard again.
The Motion-Activated Sprinkler
We purchased a motion-activated water repellent the ScareCrow animal
repellent by Contech. Installation was simple: stake it into the ground and
attach it to the garden hose. It protects up to 1,200 square feet and is
effective not only for coyotes but also stray dogs, deer, cats, raccoons,
squirrels, and rabbits.
Here’s what happens when a coyote crosses the motion sensor:
The unit makes a sharp clicking noise and then releases a sudden burst of
water. The noise startles the animal, and the water has enough force to create
a quick sting. It’s harmless but unpleasant exactly what you want in a deterrent.
The first time the coyote triggered it, it bolted. It tried a couple more
times, testing the boundary, but each time the sprinkler fired, it backed off.
Eventually, it stopped coming into the yard altogether.
Making the Yard Less Appealing
The next day, my husband and I walked the yard to look for anything else
that might be attracting wildlife.
- Our dog’s food had spilled out of
his bowl and was scattered on the ground. We fixed that by feeding him in
the garage.
- We bought locking-lid trash cans
from Lowe’s to keep animals out of the garbage.
- We cleared away thick, overgrown
plants that created hiding spots. A manicured yard is far less comfortable
for wildlife.
None of these changes were difficult, but together they made our yard
much less appealing to curious animals.
A Note for City Residents
If you live in a city, your options may be different. In urban areas, I
recommend contacting animal control and asking whether they can set a live trap
to safely remove and relocate the coyote.
In our situation, trapping wasn’t realistic there are many coyotes in the woods behind our
home, and removing one wouldn’t solve the larger issue. Repellents and
deterrents were the best approach for us.
