Coyotes have been seen near E. Carroll Joyner Park, 701 Harris Road, and a pack was heard recently near the silos for the old Holding farm which is being developed as Holding Village south of the N.C. 98 bypass.
The Town of Wake Forest has issued a press release saying the experts say early summer offers more coyote sightings due to increased daytime activity, but coyotes usually pose no threat to people or pets.
To prevent conflicts with coyotes the N.C. Wildlife Commission offers the following tips:
- Secure garbage in containers with tight-fitting lids and take them out on the morning of pick up, not the night before. Coyotes and other wildlife will scavenge trash.
- Don’t feed or try to pet coyotes. Feeding a coyote rewards it for coming in close proximity to people. Once a coyote becomes habituated, it loses its natural wariness of people and may become bold and aggressive.
- Protect your pets by keeping them inside, leashed or inside a fenced area.
- Install coyote-proof fencing around your home to protect unsupervised pets.
- Feed pets indoors or remove food when your pet is finished eating outside. Coyotes and other wildlife are attracted to pet food left outdoors.
- Keep bird-feeder areas clean. Use bird feeders that keep seed off the ground. Coyotes are attracted to small animals congregating on the ground. If coyotes are frequently seen, remove all feeders.
- Close off crawl spaces under sheds and porches. Coyotes and other wildlife may use these spaces for resting and raising young.
- Cut back brushy edges in your yard, which provide cover for coyotes.
- Don’t be intimidated by a coyote. Maintain its wariness by throwing a small object (such as a tennis ball) at it, making a loud noise or spraying it with a hose. Let it know it is unwelcome near your home.
- Clear fallen fruit from around fruit trees.
- Educate your neighbors. Your efforts to prevent coyote conflicts will be less effective if some neighbors are still providing food.
Wake Forest officials say most of the town’s parks and greenways are located in natural areas. As a result, citizens who frequent the town’s parks and utilize its greenways may encounter various species of wildlife in their natural habitat.
Officials also wish to remind residents the Wake Forest Code of Ordinances prohibits hunting and trapping on town property and the discharge of firearms within the Wake Forest town limits.
Citizens are urged to call the Wake Forest Police Department at 919-554-6150 or Wake County Animal Control at 919-212-7387 if they are experiencing damage caused by, or unusual behavior on the part of a coyote or any other wild animal. Trained and experienced animal control personnel will assess the situation and determine the best course of action.
