With Coyotes ‘Here To Stay,’ W.Va. Wildlife Professionals Urge Caution

Gale Riner’s small, Morgan County farm neighbors a ridge that locals have dubbed “coyote alley.” Along its slopes, she said it is common to hear coyotes prowling.

“I’ve had them come after me,” she said. “I’ve shot like probably eight or nine in the past year.”

Riner is also a pet owner. She said one of her dogs, a Great Pyrenees, can typically fend for himself. The other two are tiny dogs, so she makes sure they steer clear from danger outside.

“I’m overly defensive with my little ones in the house,” she said. “They do go out on the deck and on the porch, but only if me and my Pyrenees are right there.”

But some pets are not as lucky. Riner said she has heard of community members losing their pets to coyotes, and recently saw the remains of a dog that had been killed.

“I’m a dog lover,” she said. “It truly, really rattled me.”

Coyotes have not always lived in Morgan County. According to Holly Morris, project leader for the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR), coyote sightings in the Mountain State are the product of a population expansion that began just a few decades ago. And, with the possibility of increased coyote activity during the winter months, wildlife professionals urge residents to take steps of caution.

Coyotes in West Virginia

Throughout the 1970s and 80s, coyotes migrated east from their native homelands, North America’s prairies and deserts, Morris said. Their ability to survive in different ecosystems has helped their population spread across the country.

“They don’t need any particular habitat requirements. They’re very adaptable to urban areas and rural areas,” she said. “So they can do well in forested habitats and also suburban habitats just as well.”

In the past, Morris says predators like wolves and mountain lions kept coyotes at bay. But their populations were severely reduced due to habitat loss and hunting, opening the door for coyotes to spread to places like West Virginia.

“Overall, coyotes are here in West Virginia. They’re on the landscape, and they’re here to stay,” Morris said. “Whether some folks enjoy them, and other folks think they’re a pest.”

Staying safe

According to Morris, that is why it is important to take safety precautions when coyotes are in your area, especially during the wintertime. January marks the start of coyotes’ breeding season, and is also a period of time when food can be scarcer.

Staying safe means keeping an eye on pets and not placing food outdoors, Morris said.

“If you’re having to see a coyote often in your neighborhood or things of that nature, you want to keep him on his toes. You want to make him fearful of people,” she said. “Definitely do not encourage them to come closer by putting out any type of food sources for them.”

When coyote activity is higher, Morris advises keeping dogs on a leash.

Morris also said pet owners should avoid keeping food outside for prolonged periods. If food does not attract coyotes themselves, it can attract species that coyotes prey upon, like mice, Morris said.

“Put out enough food for them to eat, and then take that food back inside once they’re done. Don’t leave a food source outside to encourage coyotes to come in,” she said.

Morris said residents experiencing issues with coyotes can contact their local WVDNR office, or the United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services Office in Elkins.

Population control

Alternatively, West Virginia also has a year-round coyote season. That means residents are legally permitted to shoot the canines 500 feet away from occupied buildings.

Or residents can also call in professional trappers, like J.W. Stevens. Stevens is a Morgan County-based animal trapper who runs Nuisance Wildlife Control, a small business with services in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

“I definitely don’t hate coyotes. I’m neutral,” he said. “But with my business, it’s like I’m a mediator, resolving the conflict between humans and animals.”

Instead of just targeting coyotes when they pop up, Stevens places traps out to catch them, which he says can be a more effective approach.

In his line of work, Stevens has come across many coyotes, among other animals. He says it’s best to keep your distance from them, because they might lash out when cornered.

If you encounter a coyote up close, Stevens said yelling and throwing things at it can help diffuse the situation. If you get bit, he added that it is important to get tested for rabies.

Stevens said being particularly proactive about safety with wildlife is important, especially because coyotes seem to have selected West Virginia as a home long term.

“Just to be honest with everybody, there’s no way to eradicate them permanently,” Stevens said. “It’s just a ‘take care of as the situation arises’ type of thing.”