Sun City September 18, 2014

1. Darren Julian—Urban Wildlife SpecialistOfficer Lainie Antolik—Wildlife ManagerAZ Game & Fish DepartmentRegion VI(480)981-9400www.AZGFD.gov Sun City September 18, 2014

2. Living with Arizona’s Wildlife • Overview of Common Urban Wildlife with emphasis on Coyotes • Needs of Wildlife • Why they are in your neighborhood • Human-Wildlife Conflict Resolution • Eliminating attractants • Changing Human Behavior • Cooperative Effort and Taking Responsibility

3. Wildlife in the City • Development temporarily displaces neighboring populations • Emigration • The oasis we have created for ourselves suits them too • Immigration • Life is easier in your neighborhood than in the desert • Higher concentrations of some species in urban areas

4. Wildlife Attractants • Habitat = Food, Water, Cover or Shelter, Space and Arrangement of these components • Golf courses provide most of these on their own • Water sources, pools, bird baths etc. • Pet food and small pets that are left unsupervised • Low brush for hiding cover near a hunting area • Bird feeders and bird seed • ACCESS to these areas without harassment – key component

7. Coyotes Javelina Bobcats Foxes Skunks Raccoons Mountain lions Rabbits Quail Rodents Deer Birds Hawks & Falcons Owls Common Urban Wildlife

8. Urban Coyotes Today, the focus is on urban coyotes, but a lot of the information and messages can be applied to other urban wildlife. For more information visit www.azgfd.gov/urbanwildlife

9. Coyote Jay Walking Coyote Looking for a parking spot Urban Coyotes This construction traffic is a nightmare!

10. Basic Coyote Biology Coyote Vital Statistics • Weight: 15-30 lbs. • Length with tail: 40-50" • Shoulder Height: 15-20" • Sexual Maturity: 1-2 years • Mating Season: Jan-March • Gestation Period: 58-65 days • No. of Young: 2-12, 6 avg. • Birth Interval: 1 year • Lifespan: 7-10 years (in the wild) • Typical diet: Small mammals and birds (80%), insects, reptiles, fruit, carrion, garbage, bird seed, pet food and small pets • When coyotes are trapped and removed from an area, it causes a breakdown in the animal's social structure and can cause more coyotes to breed and their territory to expand

13. Basic Coyote Biology Curious Coyote Facts • Only 5-20% of coyote pups survive their first year • Coyotes can run at almost 40 mph and jump over a 8' fence • Coyotes can breed with domestic dogs • Coyotes are naturally afraid of humans - more afraid of you than vice-versa

14. Other Coyote Facts • Highly adaptable & opportunistic predatory animal • Intelligent animal – easily trained (conditioning) • Naturally fearful of Humans • Fear lost in stages over time • Removed by proximity indifference • Tolerance • Feeding (active or inadvertent) Not naturally aggressive toward larger opponents

15. Why Do Coyotes seem to be increasing in number? • Abundance of prey species and abundance of other food sources • Acceptance of their presence encourages closer contact • Without discouragement, coyotes begin to include back yards, porches and other areas as part of their home range Same number of coyotes seen more often

17. Sun City, Arizona

18. Presence of Coyote Packs • Coyotes are a highly social animal • Packs are made up of non-breeding offspring from this year and last year • This social structure is for defense of food and territory • Pack formation and size is determined by the available food sources; more food means less competition and less likelihood of dispersal

19. Problems associated with Urban Coyotes Disease concerns • Mange • Distemper • Other common canine diseases • Vaccinated pets are not at risk

20. Cat Concerns Small Dog Concerns Problems associated with Urban Coyotes

21. Solutions Keeping Cats Safe

22. Solutions Disguise our pets?

23. Solutions Bigger Cats?

24. Cats and Small Dogs Safety No substitution for supervision The more time pets are left unattended, the higher the likelihood that a predator will take advantage of these opportunities

25. Walking Your Dog • Keep dogs on a leash • Be aware of your surroundings • Buddy system, walk in groups, assist others • Carry a walking stick • If you encounter a coyote: • Do not run • Pick up small dogs, keep big dogs close • Be aggressive, use aggressive postures and movements, use low, loud tones • Use of chemical deterrents (more later)

26. Problems associated with Urban Coyotes Children’s (and adult) Safety

27. Children (and Adult Safety) • Children should be supervised • Coyotes consider adults too large to risk a confrontation • Domestic dog bites much more common than Coyote incidents: 5,000+ dog bites per year in Maricopa County 18 coyote incidents (bites and scratches) since 1997

30. Other removal methods Trapping Advocates of lethal Coyote Removal

32. Trapping and RelocatingWhy it doesn’t work • Disease transportation • New home VS. Home-Sweet-Home • Social intolerance – dominant pack wins • Stress related deaths • Largely ineffective

33. Advocates of Coyote Tolerance • .......kissing a coyote is always a bad idea!!!

34. Solutions Fixing the problem

35. Solutions – Short Term • Removal of Nuisance animals by licensed professionals (Wildlife Service Licensees) • Live trap on private property (or by permission of the owner) • Recommend that all adult coyotes be euthanized • List of license holders provided

36. Solutions – Short Term • Removal of non-responsive coyotes by AZGFD • Overt aggressive behavior (baring teeth and approaching humans) • Always lethal , effective for short term only(2-6 months) • Without human behavior and environmental changes, remaining coyotes and new “renters” will over time cause more conflicts

38. Solutions - Long Term • First and foremost—DO NOT FEED • Removing or altering of attractants • Clearing low brush, fallen fruits, bird feeders and surrounding areas, clean bbq grills, secure garbage, etc. • Discourage coyote presence • Community wide effort (shaker can rattler, pots and pans, rocks, pepper spray, diluted ammonia, etc.) • No more indifference or tolerance—active hazing of coyotes, anytime and anywhere • Restricting Access • Coyote Roller, electric fencing, ammonia soaked rags, etc.

44. ARS 13-2927 Unlawful Feeding of Wildlife A person commits unlawful feeding of wildlife by intentionally, knowingly or recklessly feeding, attracting or otherwise enticing wildlife into an area, with exceptions for birds or tree squirrels. Unlawful feeding is a petty offense. Applies in counties with a population greater than 280,000.

45. Bird Feeding • Issues • Bird Seed • Birds • Other animals • Acceptable Feeding • Deterrants

46. Getting everyone on the same page

47. Human Dimensions • Wildlife are simply reacting to their environment • Humans modify and enhance local environments (create opportunities for wildlife) • Humans dominate this environment • Human behavior is the only thing we can directly change • Modifying human behavior and habits will affect wildlife behavior • Resolution of conflict involves an active & united approach by the community

48. Our Message Successfully Living with Wildlifeis a dynamic process that requires: • Increased knowledge and awareness • Taking responsibility when creating opportunities for wildlife • Responsible citizens and communities to assist with resolution • Cooperation and support; Everyone on the “Same Page!” We’re not saying “just live with it!”

50. Living with Wildlife!