Coyotes can be a real worry if you want to keep your yard safe for your family and pets. The best way to keep coyotes away? Remove what attracts them—like food sources, shelter, and easy access to your property.
Simple steps help a lot. Secure your trash, bring pet food inside, and try fencing or motion-activated lights.
You don’t have to live in constant fear of coyotes. Just learning a few ways to make your yard less inviting will help you feel more confident outside.
Keep reading for practical tips you can use right away to protect your home and pets.
Effective Ways to Keep Coyotes Away
You’ll need a mix of strong barriers, getting rid of food or hiding spots, and tools that scare coyotes away. Focus on physical fences, clearing attractants, repellents, and devices that react to coyote movements.
These actions work best when you combine them.
Install a Coyote-Proof Fence
A good fence keeps coyotes out better than most things. It should be at least 6 to 7 feet tall—coyotes can jump surprisingly high.
Bury the fence at least 1 foot underground so coyotes can’t dig under it.
Pick smooth materials like metal or vinyl, since coyotes climb chain-link fences pretty well.
Add coyote rollers to the top of the fence. These rollers spin and make it hard for coyotes to get a grip and climb over.
If you want even more protection, install an electric fence just inside the main fence. It’ll give them a mild shock if they try to cross.
Remove Food Sources and Attractants
Coyotes show up mostly because they find food. Never leave food scraps or pet food outside.
Keep your garbage cans tightly closed and skip bird feeders that drop seeds on the ground.
Pick up fallen fruit from trees. Trim shrubs and tall grass so coyotes can’t hide.
Bring pet food inside every night so coyotes don’t get used to easy meals.
Lock sheds and keep your yard tidy. That way, you take away hiding places they like.
Use Coyote Repellents and Deterrents
You can use safe repellents that smell bad to coyotes.
Try coyote repellent sprays, cayenne pepper, vinegar, or even products made with wolf urine scent.
Spray these around your fence line or spots where you’ve seen coyotes.
Repellents won’t stop every coyote, but they add another layer of defense.
Sound deterrents like air horns or alarms can startle coyotes and make them think twice about coming back.
Utilize Motion-Activated Devices
Motion-activated lights and sprinklers work well to scare coyotes.
When bright lights suddenly turn on, coyotes often get spooked and leave.
Water sprinklers triggered by movement will soak coyotes and make your yard less appealing.
Combine a motion sensor light with a sprinkler system for a stronger effect.
Some devices even have cameras, so you can keep an eye on coyote activity and protect your property more easily.
Additional Tips for Long-Term Coyote Prevention
If you want coyotes to stay away for good, make your property less inviting and keep your pets safe. Small changes in your yard and how you care for your animals can really help.
Make Landscaping Less Appealing
Coyotes love places where they can hide and feel safe. Keep your yard tidy.
Trim tall grass and bushes regularly so coyotes don’t have spots to sneak around or rest.
Pick up fallen fruit or anything that might attract them. Fruit trees dropping rotting fruit can bring coyotes looking for easy meals.
Clear away piles of wood, brush, or debris that could give them shelter.
If you compost, use a secure bin that coyotes can’t get into. Take away hiding spots and food, and your yard gets a lot less interesting to coyotes.
Grow Fragrant Plants to Deter Coyotes
Some plants naturally keep coyotes away because of their strong smells.
Try planting herbs like lavender, mint, or marigolds along fences and garden edges. These scents confuse or bother coyotes, which makes them think twice about coming in.
These plants are easy to grow and good for your garden too. Lavender and mint can help with bugs, and marigolds add some color.
No plant will stop coyotes on its own, but using them with other methods—like fencing or removing food—gives you a better shot at keeping coyotes away for the long haul.
Supervise Pets and Secure Animal Areas
Coyotes often see small pets—like cats and little dogs—as prey. So, you really need to keep an eye on your pets when they’re outside, especially around dawn, dusk, or at night.
If possible, just keep pets indoors during those hours. When pets do go outside, make sure places like dog runs or chicken coops have sturdy fencing that coyotes can’t climb or dig under.
Lock up gates and doors to sheds or other animal shelters. You definitely don’t want coyotes sneaking in and causing trouble near your animals.
These steps help protect your pets and make it less likely you’ll run into problems with coyotes around your home.
For more ideas on keeping coyotes out of your yard, take a look at this coyote prevention guide.
