How to Keep Coyotes Away From Goats

Coyotes hunt most often at dusk and dawn.

Coyotes are closely related to domesticated dogs. Like their cousin, the wolf, coyotes survive off a diet of meat. Coyotes are shy and prefer to avoid human interaction. Because humans are taking over larger territories of land, however, coyotes have less natural prey to hunt. This leads them to easy targets such as domesticated farm animals. Flocks of sheep and goats are easy prey. Keeping coyotes away from expensive livestock can be difficult, but is possible.

Instructions

1. Deter coyotes by keeping other animals around your goats. Large dog breeds are good for scaring off coyotes. Keeping a donkey or llama in your goat herd has also been shown to deter coyotes.

2. Build a fence around your property. Coyote fences must be at least 7 feet high to prevent coyotes from jumping over them. Electric fences can also be purchased to shock coyotes that come too close.

3. Install a scarecrow in your goat pen. A scarecrow wearing used clothing will not only look like a person, but smell like one.

4. Buy an electronic guard system; these systems have motion detectors and set off lights and loud alarms to scare coyotes away.

References

• In Defense of Animals; Wildlife Management Facts; Coyotes
• Missouri Department of Conservation; Damage Prevention and Control; 2011