Do not feed the bears and Don't feed Coyotes or other wildlife...3,000 Coyotes in CT, Helpful to report to DEP for tracking. Legal to kill if coyote attacking pets or livestock (but take precautions please)

 Here are a few pointers from the talk today.Key to the success is sharing this information in your local and wider areas!

Ginny Apple of the CT DEP gave a talk online on zoom via the DM Hunt Library in Falls Village  CT. She shared many basic facts about their species and behavior. Pups are born in the spring in litters of about 7 and becoming mobile by six weeks. She shared many photos and some sound bites as well as stories that some people feed wild life (foxes, coyote and others) that diminish the more natural distancing and is not a good idea.

Eliminate access to compost piles with meat or even food scraps or rotting fruit under a tree, or bird feeders within range of animals and yummy smelling garbage out of the range of wild life, such as with a fenced in area or other deterrent and not near the home. Coyotes can come into one's yard but in general will not attack people or pets, but that could be more common.

I know I've read of some such encounters in CT. Without natural predators, more rats and rodents, woodchucks and other small animals may proliferate. There are tips on preventing conflicts and more information on the DEP website. Don't let coyotes intimidate you, pick something up and throw it, can spray them in the face with water. Don't leave garbage out at night. Don't befriend wild animals or feed them. Free roaming pets may be killed by cars moreso than wild animals. A bear can smell an empty dog dish from two miles away if outdoors so take precautions to not set up any signals of food.

Education neighbors about best practices to avoid interacting wild animals. Coyotes can be hunted within legal limits for timing, tagging, trapping and killing for fur. People tend to be afraid of coyotes but preventive measures can address those things...fencing and deterrents with not leaving food resources available. Coyotes can get  6 feet over fences (gripping and crawling up) but install PVC pipe on the top with fence wire. If you can't tolerate a coyote, it is not permissible to relocate them but they can be killed if they are causing direct trouble or harm. If a coyote has lost its fear of people the symptoms are that they have lost fear of people, pets and engage. That should be reported and addressed.