Notice to Residents Regarding Coyotes 

As you are aware from the most recent unfortunate incident in your neighborhood, there are Coyotes in your neighborhood. We have had reporting's in other areas of Clarence too and want to make you aware of some things that we can do as residents to protect our own surroundings.

The Town of Clarence is under the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) direction on what can and cannot be done with wildlife in our area. While protecting our residents, we also have to protect the wildlife in our Town according to the law. The Town is being proactive with this situation to see if there is anything that we can do to prevent any such incidents in the future.

We would also like to share some points for residents to help avoid any such occurrence in your neighborhood. 

For your information here are some recommendations that appear on the NYSDEC website:

Do not feed Coyotes or other wildlife and discourage others from doing so. It is harmful to feed wildlife in your yards for many reasons, beside the fact that it draws the animals - they also then become used to the presence of people. It also will then draw more wildlife to the area. Wildlife feeding can also promote the spread of diseases. Wildlife feeding can also lead to unnatural behavior of the wildlife - they become reliable on an abundant year-round food source and may not migrate during normal time of year. Fed animals also become more aggressive towards each other and towards humans as they lose wariness. Backyard bird feeders should only be used in the winter. 

Unintentional food sources attract coyotes and other animals.
-Do not feed pets outside
-Make any garbage inaccessible to coyotes and other animals.
-Eliminate availability of bird seed. Concentrations of birds and rodents that come to feeders can attract coyotes. If your see a coyote near your birdfeeder, clean up waste seed and spillage to remove that attractant.
-Do not allow cats to roam free outdoors. 

Do not allow coyotes to approach people or pets. 
-Teach children to appreciate coyotes and other wildlife from a distance. 
-If you see a coyote, be aggressive in your behavior - stand tall and hold arms out to look large. If a coyote lingers for too long, then make loud noises, wave your arms, throw sticks and stones. 
-Do not allow pets to run free. Supervise all outdoor pets to keep them safe from coyote's and other wildlife, especially at night. 
-Regulated hunting and trapping increases the "fear" coyotes have towards people.
-Fencing your yard may deter coyotes. The fence should be tight to the ground, preferably extending six inches below ground level, and taller than 4 feet. For the Town of Clarence you would have to check codes/permits with our Planning and Zoning Department 716-741-8933.
-Remove brush and tall grass from around your own property to reduce protective cover for coyotes. Coyotes are typically secretive and like areas where they can hide. 

Coyotes and People

Coyotes provide many benefits to New Yorkers through observation, photography, hunting, and trapping; however, not all interactions are positive. While most coyotes avoid interacting with people, some coyotes in suburbia become emboldened and appear to have lost their fear of people. This can result in a dangerous situation. A coyote that does not flee from people should be considered dangerous. Coyotes in residential areas can be attracted to garbage, pet food, and other human-created sources of food. Coyotes can associate people with these food attractants. In addition, in some cases human behavior has changed to be nonthreatening to coyotes (running into your home after seeing a coyote is behaving like prey). In short, people may unintentionally attract coyotes with food and people may behave like prey. Add to the mix people intentionally feeding coyotes and the potential for a coyote attack becomes very real.

Children are at greatest risk of being injured by coyotes. If a coyote has been observed repeatedly near an area where children frequent, be watchful for coyotes and do not let a coyote approach anyone. Follow the steps outlined above. 

Potential does exist for coyote attacks in New York. However, a little perspective may be in order. On average, 650 people are hospitalized and one person killed by dogs each year in New York State. Nationwide, only a handful of coyote attacks occur yearly. Nevertheless, these conflicts are bad for people, pets, and coyotes. 

Coyotes and Pets

Of great concern to many people is the interaction of coyotes with cats or dogs. Do coyotes kill cats? Absolutely, but so do foxes, dogs, bobcats, vehicles, and even great horned owls. Cat owners need to be aware that cats allowed to roam free are at risk from many different factors. To protect your cat, keep it indoors, or allow it outside only under supervision. Coyotes in some areas appear to become "specialists" at catching and killing cats. 

Do dog owners need to be concerned about coyotes? The answer is maybe. Conflicts between dogs and coyotes can happen any time of the year, but are more likely in the months of March and April. It is during this time that coyotes are setting up their denning areas for the soon-to-arrive pups. Coyotes become exceptionally territorial around these den sites in an attempt to create a safe place for their young. In general, coyotes view other canines (dogs) as a threat. Essentially it comes down to a territorial dispute between your dog and the coyote. Both believe that your yard is their territory. 

Owners of large and medium sized dogs have less to worry about, but should still take precautions. Coyotes, with an average weight of 40 lbs., know they are overmatched by large dogs and will yield part of their territory (your yard) to the dog. A confrontation may occur between a mid-sized dog and a coyote. Such confrontations, however, usually do not involve physical contact between the two animals, but coyotes may challenge or chase mid-sized dogs. 

Owners of small dogs have cause for concern. Small dogs are of greatest risk of being harmed or killed by coyotes. Small dogs are at risk when left unattended in backyards at night, and should be supervised by owners. Coyotes have attacked and killed small dogs unattended in backyards. Coyotes may approach small dogs along streets at night near natural areas, even in the presence of dog owners. Be alert of your surroundings and take precautions such as carrying a flashlight or a walking stick to deter coyotes. While rather uncommon, people that have picked up their small dog to protect them from coyotes have been injured (scratched or bitten) by coyotes. 

You can contact the local NYSDEC office at 716-851-7050 or in the alternative you can call my office Monday - Friday 8:30-4:30pm at 741-8930 or email pcasilio@clarence.ny.us

Patrick Casilio, Town Supervisor