Coyotes are finding Yachats to their liking but ODFW says so far not threatening pets or people

By GARRET JAROS/Lincoln Chronicle

YACHATS – Close encounters of the coyote kind have become a common occurrence in Yachats in the last month with stories abounding of the four-legged locals boldly sprinting past beachgoers and strutting down city streets.

Weekly warnings on social media to protect pets and take precautions are as numerous as the social media photos and videos showing a coyote nearly everywhere in town but the checkout line at the grocery store.

Yachats officials have received a few complaints and have passed those onto the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, the agency responsible for trying to manage wayward wildlife.

“We do not keep a running tally of sightings but have documented 14 ‘complaints’ in our database for the Yachats area,” said Jason Kirchner, ODFW’s regional wildlife biologist in an email to the Lincoln Chronicle. “A complaint constitutes something more than a standard wildlife sighting.”

The sightings began in late March and have continued into June with the most recent complaint coming to Yachats officials just days ago. As of last week there have been no complaints received from Waldport residents.

Wildlife officials believe the coyotes in Yachats are not part of the same family group.

Kirchner said ODFW has been sharing information on social media and posted signs in the Yachats area and with Oregon State Police and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s wildlife service patrolled the area to try to observe any coyotes and classify their behavior.

Kirchner said they set a live trap in Yachats for a week without success. But if one was caught, it would be destroyed, he said.

A coyote was trapped and killed at Muriel O. Ponsler Viewpoint south of Yachats in 2024 because it had become used to people, which ODFW officials say was most likely caused by people feeding the animal.

“There have been reports of coyotes attacking domestic cats and a dog, but none of those reports have been substantiated by an ODFW biologists,” Kirchner said. “Coyotes have been reported acting aggressive and coming very close to people, but there have not been any reports of them attacking anyone at this time.”

Easily adaptable

What causes a coyote to break from the wilds and roam so freely near people?

Coyotes are well adapted to both rural and urban environments, Kirchner said, and it is not unusual to see them in developed areas, even during the day. Coyotes thrive in coastal habitats and frequent beaches regularly to scavenge.

“However, they typically keep their distance from people,” he said. “Coyotes approaching people is an abnormal behavior and shows evidence of habituation, which can be caused by feeding wildlife.”

Coyotes give birth in the springtime and litters can range from three to seven pups. While denning coyotes can cause conflict as they become more territorial, Kirchner said the Yachats-area animals do not appear to be actively denning due to the large area they are covering and lack of vocalizations – yipping and howling.

What should people do if they see a coyote and what precautions should they take?

“Coyotes are skilled hunters and opportunistic feeders – they will prey on pets and eat pet food and garbage,” Kirchner said. “Coyotes cannot differentiate between domestic and wild prey. If you encounter a coyote, scare it off with loud noises and throw rocks or other objects at it. If a coyote acts aggressively (by) barking, growling, following (or) charging, pick up small children and pets, make loud noises and slowly back away from the animal.”

Coyote territories and travel areas change depending on the animal’s breeding status and time of year. Denning coyotes in the spring have a much smaller travel area compared to the same animals in the fall when pups are mobile. Similarly, individual coyotes will travel further distances than pairs with young pups.

Coyotes in North America weigh between 20 and 50 pounds. They may live as solitary individuals, in pairs and often mating for life, or in small family groups. They are omnivores who eat rodents, rabbits, insects, lizards, birds, fruits, vegetables and carrion. They are not considered a disease threat.

In the wild, coyotes have an average lifespan of three to six years, although they can biologically reach 10 to 14 years. In captivity, free from predators and disease they can live for 13 to 20 years.

Conservation groups claim killing coyotes is ineffective because survivors often breed more as a result, and newcomers can quickly replace removed individuals.

Recommendations

The ODFW advises calling 9-1-1 in the event of an attack or other emergency and to report aggressive behavior towards people or pets to its local district office in Newport. They are also advising these safety tips for living with coyotes:

• Do not leave small children or pets unattended outdoors if coyotes frequent the area;
• Keep cats indoors and dogs leashed while walking or recreating;
• Feed pets indoors. Do not leave food or water bowls outside for pets, feral animals or wildlife;
• Install motion-activated lights and supervise pets when taking them out at night;
• Secure garbage in an area inaccessible to wild animals and use bleach as necessary to remove odors from garbage cans;
• Clean barbecues regularly;
• Harvest fruits and vegetables as they become ripe;
• Cover and secure compost piles;
• Trim and clear vegetation that provides cover for coyotes or their prey; and
• Remove birdfeeders because coyotes are attracted to birds and rodents that use feeders.

• Garret Jaros covers the communities of Yachats, Waldport, south Lincoln County and natural resources issues for Lincoln Chronicle and can be reached at [email protected]