About Coyotes:

• An unintended consequence from an increased use of video technology to help prevent property crimes has been a rise in residents seeing the wildlife – coyotes included – that has always lived in or passed through the community.
• Coyotes that live in urban and suburban environments do not typically travel in packs.
• Coyotes are most active at dawn and dusk but may be seen during daylight hours.
• Coyotes mate between January-March and may be more active during this time period.
• Coyotes typically prey on small mammals such as rabbits and mice, but may also prey on small pets if presented with the opportunity to do so.
• Coyotes are shy and cautious animals and will avoid people whenever possible. Coyotes that approach homes tend to do so because they are being fed.
• The Ohio Wildlife Center discourages against trapping and relocating coyotes. In areas where humans have tried to reduce coyote populations, coyotes have naturally increased their litter size. In addition, empty territories attract migrating coyotes that then choose to settle in the voided areas.
• If a coyote visiting your yard seems to lack a fear of humans or is presenting a conflict even after removing attractants from your yard, contact a nuisance trapper. Call the Division of Wildlife at 1-800-WILDLIFE (945-3543) for assistance.

DIY Deterrents:

• Remove items such as pet food that might attract a coyote to your yard, and keep garbage securely contained in your trash container or inside your garage until you are able to put it out at the curb for collection.
• Keep outdoor grills clean.
• Use motion-activated lighting and sprinklers.
• Keep pets fenced in or otherwise safely contained (per City ordinance, cats are part of the City’s leash laws and should be kept inside or confined on the owner’s premises at all times).
• For small dogs, stay with them when they are outside, particularly at night when coyotes are most active.
• If necessary, use electric fencing.

Encountering a Coyote:

• DO NOT feed or attempt to tame a coyote.
• DO NOT turn your back on a coyote.
• DO NOT run from a coyote.
• DO be big and loud.
• DO move toward active or populated areas.

Signs you may have deer:

• You notice uneven bite marks out plants.
• You find scrapes in the bark on the lower portion of trees. These are typically made by the deer’s lower teeth.
• You find rubs in the bark on the lower portion of trees. Bucks typically make rubs as they shed their antlers in the fall.
• You notice heart shaped hoof prints or dark oblong droppings.

DIY Deterrents:

• Do not approach a deer that has taken up residence near your home. Be sure to keep dogs and children away from the deer.
• When you see a deer near your residence make loud noise using household items (i.e. pots and pans, a blow-horn, etc.) to scare the deer away.

Signs you may have rats or mice:

• You find small droppings, approximately the size of a grain of rice.
• You find gnawed holes, up to two-inches wide, in baseboards or doorframes. This is a sign the rodent has been present for an extended period of time.
• You find smudge marks from the rodent’s body oils on the lower portions of your walls.
• You hear unidentifiable movement in your walls or attic.
• Your family pet becomes fixated with what should otherwise be a blank wall or floorboard.

DIY Deterrents:

• Rats and mice can squeeze through even the smallest of holes (the size of a quarter). Prevent rodents from entering your home by sealing off holes. Heavyweight material, such as quarter-inch hardware cloth is recommended.
• Gaps often occur near electrical conduits, utility or air conditioning lines or water pipes that enter your home or drains exiting your home. Finish openings with caulking or foam insulation. Because rats can chew through insulation, combine it with wire mesh.

DIY Removal:

• Lethal control is legal for rodents but remember that the need to control rats is largely a direct result of a lack of cleanliness so environmental changes are recommended first.
• The least inhumane methods for killing rats and mice include the traditional snap trap and newer traps that use an electrical charge to stun and kill the rodent. Rodent bait laced with poison is another option.
• IMPORTANT: These traps can be harmful to humans and pets. Be sure to follow all instructions carefully and to check the traps frequently. Wear rubber gloves when handling dead animals, traps and rodent bait. Place dead animals in sealed plastic bags and dispose of them in trash receptacles that are regularly collected.

Signs you may have skunks:

• You find small, shallow holes in your lawn. Skunks foraging for grubs often leave these holes.
• You find small plants and garden crops knocked over or damaged. Skunks like to target the bottom leaves of crops and especially like corn.

DIY Deterrents:

• Skunks like to den in warm, dry areas, such as garages, sheds, wood and rock piles and under concrete slabs and porches. To prevent this from happening be sure to close off all potential access points.
• Bury quarter-inch mesh hardware cloth one to two feet into the ground in places where animals might gain access to garages, sheds or underneath porches through digging.

DIY Removal:

• If you suspect you’ve found a skunk den, proceed with caution. To determine if the skunk is present, fill the hole with a wad of newspaper. Check back daily to see if the newspaper has been displaced.
• If several days have gone by without the newspaper being disturbed, the skunk should no longer be present, and you can proceed with filling the hole or closing off the skunk’s point of entry to its den.
• If a skunk is present, harassment can be effective. Repeatedly cover the access point to its den with straw or newspaper to see if it gets the message. Make the den less attractive by adding light and noise (i.e. turning on a radio). Motion activated sprinklers can also scare skunks.
• Keep in mind that skunks can spray over 10 feet. If you feel ill equipped to harass or take steps to remove the skunk, refer to the pest removal companies provided for assistance.

Signs you may have squirrels and/or raccoons:

• You notice chewed up shingles or boards.

DIY Deterrents:

• Remove branches that extend over your roof that can provide an easy access point.
• Bury quarter-inch mesh hardware cloth one to two feet into the ground in places where animals might gain access to garages, sheds or underneath porches through digging.
• If you have one or more chimneys, install guards that prevent wildlife from gaining access.

DIY Removal:

• If you have a squirrel or raccoon in your home, open windows and doors to provide an exit, then leave it alone to allow it time to figure out how to escape.
• You may also try trapping it with a large enough container. Once captured, slide a piece of cardboard between the container and the wall or floor and take the animal back outside to be released.
• If an animal is caught down a chimney, try hanging a rope from the top into the chimney to give it something to help climb back out.