Coyotes are out and about this season, Outer Banks town says. Here’s how to stay safe
There might be more coyotes roaming around these days, North Carolina officials warn.
The Town of Nags Head on North Carolina’s Outer Banks warned residents on Friday that they may see increased coyote activity until March.
With it being mating season, they may be out and about more than usual, the town says in a Facebook post.
But coyotes aren’t just on the Outer Banks.
The species is common throughout the state, according to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
Coyotes are some of the most adaptable mammals on the continent, the commission says, and they can survive anywhere there is food, meaning they can live in urban and suburban environments.
In North Carolina, coyotes look like red wolves but are smaller with pointed ears and thin snouts, wildlife officials say. When fully grown, they’re about the same size as a mid-sized dog.
Coyotes are usually harmless, wildlife officials say, but there are ways to “prevent conflicts” with them.
They’ll become “bold and habituated if fed,” whether its on purpose or not, so it’s important to avoid attracting them to your home.
Trash should be contained in bins with tight lids and taken outside the morning its going to be picked up, according to the commission.
People should never feed coyotes, the commission says, as this rewards them for coming close to humans.
It’s also important to keep pet food inside, keep areas around bird feeders clean and pick up fallen fruit from trees, the commission says.
It’s extremely rare for a coyote to attack a person, including children, the commission says, but it is possible that they’ll attack pets, especially this time of year.
Pets should be kept inside and on a leash or in a fence when outside, the commission says.
If you see a coyote, there’s no reason to panic, according to officials.
They’re naturally wary around humans and can be scared off by throwing something small at it, making loud noises or spraying it with water, the commission says.
