Coyotes in Metro

[USDA3]

I work at most of the airports in the metro area and coyotes are found around/on all of them. From Anoka to Lakeville, from Lake Elmo to Flying Cloud, and even MSP and St. Paul Downtown. Coyotes are found throughout the entire metro and in some very residential/city environments.

[iceman16]

i saw one in little canada today while i was working. i hear them all the time out near stillwater at my cabin.

iceman

[The Grebe]

My wife and I seen a nice big coyote walking along on the right side of #610, right where it crosses over University. He was down the hill and taking his sweet time.

We seen another one crossing this opening on the right side of #610, a little before you take the Coon Rapid Blvd. exit. They sure look nice in their full winter coats.

[fish with teeth]

i live in little canada and i too see them from time to time. i saw 1 about a month ago hot on the trail of the 20 or so turkeys that roam the area.

hey iceman where abouts in LC were working. i live just north of lake gervais.

[icehousebob]

On TV news yesterday, they talked about a woman in Eagan that had her small dog killed in her yard by coyotes. The urban ones seem to have lost their fear of people. The woman who is the animal control officer of Eagan said that the people are moving into the coyotes' area and we just have to accept it and keep watch over their pets. I disagree. I've lived in my house in Tonka for 30 years and only recently have I started seeing coyotes. The yotes are moving into my area. I was raised on the Minn./SoDak. border and never saw any until the mid-70's. Since my neighbors have little kids and small dogs, I got their okay to whack any coyotes that get near us. The city won't or can't do anything, so its up to us to do something. And we never had this discussion.

[picksbigwagon]

I was hitting golf balls at the driving range in Chaska last night and man were the song dogs singing last night. I bet they carried on for at least 25 minutes. Really hard to concentrate on hitting the driver when you hear coyotes laughing at you. Hopefully those of you who have gotten out there this winter were successful, I have been at home way too much this winter.

[The Grebe]

I agree. The coyotes are just expanding their range, adapting to new turf and new situations. Small wood lots, parks, wooded or brushy property, large cemetaries, river banks, railroad edges, even the woody hillsides of freeways.

They can make a decent living just about anywhere and they don't get trapped, or shot at within the city limits. Their biggest enemy in the new envoirment is the automobile and that is minimal.

An owl, or a bigger raptor might pick off a small pup now and then, but close to and in the cities, I don't think they have enough natural enemies to keep the numbers down, although if mange sets in, that takes a population down quick.