Worried about the Coyote in Your Yard? You Can Co-Exist.

Screen Shot 2016-04-04 at 8.04.31 PMA coyote was spotted running down the road on Laddins Rock Rd  on Monday morning and his photos made the rounds of Facebook. Coincidentally, The Bruce Museum is hosting a lecture on Coyotes on Tuesday, April 5 from 6:30pm til 8:00pm. Chris Nagy, Director of Research and Land Management at Mianus River Gorge, will discuss The Gotham Project, a study of the ecology of the northeastern coyote in the region to help promote understanding and coexistence.

Starting at 6:30pm, a reception with light refreshments precedes lecture, which begins at 7:00 pm. An Earth Day Proclamation by Peter Tesei will take place at the end of the reception and just before the lecture begins.

Some fun facts are featured in a coyote fact sheet shared by the Conservation Commission.

Coyotes were first reported in Connecticut in the mid-1950s. Since then, they have expanded their range and are now an integral part of Connecticut’s ecosystem. They are ewell established throughout the state, including lower Fairfield County, and thrive in urban and suburban areas close to people.

People and coyotes can co-exist. Just as coyotes have adapted to living in close proximity to humans, people can adapt their behavior to ensure that the natural fear coyotes have of humans is maintained. An understanding of coyote behavior is important to a successful co-existence.

Coyotes eat many different foods including rodents, rabbits, birds, deer, snakes, frogs, insects, fruit, vegetables, garbage and pet food. In residential areas, coyotes can lose their fear of people because they associate food supply with us. Coyotes may also become bold if they are attracted to natural food sources near people and have no negative experiences when being close to people and houses. They readily prey on rodents, which is a benefit to people.

Coyotes do not live in packs. They live in family units consisting of an adult pair and their young, which may stay with the parents for up to two years. They protect their territory from other canids, including coyotes and foxes.

RSVP [email protected] Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich.