- Keep garbage properly contained
- Do not feed pets outside or keep pet food outdoors
- Keep grills cleaned and covered
- Remove standing water sources, such as old tires or watering cans
- Dispose of fruit that has fallen from trees
- Remove bird feeders. Coyotes are attracted by both the bird seed and the birds.
- Dispose of dead wildlife. Contact your waste removal company for animals on private property or the city for animals on roadways
- Keep shrubbery trimmed and clean up brushy areas that provide habitat to animals that coyotes prey upon
- Secure areas under decks and sheds, and enclose crawl spaces
- Fencing yards can discourage coyotes if fences are higher than six (6) feet tall and coyote proof
- Motion-sensor lights may alert you to coyotes in your yard
- Don't be intimidated by a coyote. Maintain its weariness by throwing a small object (such as a tennis ball) at it, raising your arms and yelling (called "hazing"), or spraying it with a hose. Let it know it is unwelcome near your home.
If you have questions or concerns about coyotes or other wildlife, please contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission at 1-866-318-2401 or HWI@ncwildlife.org.
Orange County Animal Services typically only responds to wildlife situations that involve exposure to rabies. If you have a situation that may involve rabies exposure, please contact Animal Control at 919-942-7387, option 1. For an animal-related emergency after regular hours (such as animal bites to humans or exposure to rabies), please call 9-1-1.