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Sparkle (1)
I came across a post today regarding pets and coyotes. A couple had let their little Maltese have free access to an outdoor pen when they weren't home, and it got killed by coyotes as a result. The article was a good reminder that small animals - pets and livestock - need to be secured inside homes or predator-proof pens/buildings of some sort if no humans are out with them. And it was a reminder to me that in my first article on coyotes in November, I promised a post on how to safely live around them.
Whether you are raising chickens in your backyard, own a farm or a ranch, or are the owner of beloved pets, the idea of having an animal you own get killed by a predator is distressing at best, and downright devastating at worst. And feeling like you should be worried when walking in open spaces because of potentially aggressive wildlife is not only un-fun, but it discourages people from using public land which is very much the opposite of what outdoor educators want to have happen. We want people to connect with the natural world, and that happens through repeated (and positive) experiences in the outdoors; repetition breeds - in this case - familiarity, which leads to comfort, and hopefully leads people to care about the spaces they recreate in.
But if you've been reading my blog much at all, you know I'm also a strong proponent of having large predators in our natural areas - they're a critical part of ecosystem health. But if having large predators in our natural areas may have the effect of keeping people from using those areas, what's the answer? Education, of course! Teaching people how to live with large predators - or any wild animal - safely is a critical step to reducing human-wildlife encounters.
Here's what everyone should know (and do):
- The more wild animals see humans as a potential food source the braver they will get about living around and getting close(er) to people. Keep your house, yard, farm and garden clear of any and all garbage and waste. Secure trash and compost in animal-proof containers (locked bins work well) and don’t leave pet food out overnight. It's also advisable to keep your trash and compost away from your house if possible, so if wild animals do get into it they're not right at your door (I realize this isn't possible for people with small/no yards - keeping trash indoors [basement] is another option).
- Keep small pets on leash with humans when outside at night. DON’T leave your cat outdoors at night, and don't let your small dog have access to your yard when you're not home - you're inviting trouble. Be sure chickens and other small livestock have predator-proof housing (high, sturdy fencing that is also buried underground; secured coops and barns).
But here's the trick: these steps work best when everyone puts them into action. You may be reading this and think, "Well, I'll go out and make sure that my garbage is better secured" - and that would be great. But if you live in a suburban or urban neighborhood, your chances of encountering raccoons or coyotes or foxes is really only diminished if your neighbors do the same thing. So in addition to making sure that your household or business takes these steps, you also need to help educate your friends and neighbors - and for some people, that's a harder step. But it's critical.
What about when you're out and about? There are several things you can do to keep yourself safe:
- Keep your dog on leash when hiking or running in natural areas.
- If you're camping or backpacking, keep your food secured overnight in plastic bins, your car, or (when backpacking) in bear-proof containers that are up a tree/over a ledge and well away from your tent.
- If you're traveling alone, wear a "bear bell" or other small noise-making device to scare wildlife away before they can get too close.
And in the event that you actually encounter a medium or larger-sized animal (either in your yard or out in the wild) keep these things in mind:
- Make yourself look big (put your arms up over your head or out to the side) and make noise to be sure the animal knows you're there, and/or scare it away.
- Don't let the animal approach you (this may sound stupidly obvious, but if you don't feel immediately threatened and are actually enjoying looking at the fox in your yard, you might not think of it right away).
- And for goodness sake, don't feed
