Sitting in our real estate offices in North Scottsdale, we can look
out the window and see the open desert. We often see desert "critters"
scurrying around in the wash and between the rocks. The Scottsdale and
Phoenix areas have many neighborhoods with homes built adjacent to open
spaces and beautiful wild desert. As full-service realtors who specialize
in the Scottsdale and Phoenix areas, we often get calls about the critters
our clients have seen in their neighborhoods or back yards.
We hope you will find this article on Urban Wildlife helpful if you
should notice either of these animals in your Phoenix or Scottsdale
neighborhood.
Coyotes
Coyotes can be seen at golf courses, preserves, parks and other open
spaces near residential properties. When developments are built, coyotes
are not permanently displaced. They may move on to other areas or remain
and adjust to their new environment.
Coyotes are usually timid animals and normally run away if challenged.
On rare occasions, bold coyotes have bitten humans. Coyotes can be rabid,
so it is important to avoid being bitten. Coyotes are a risk when they
have become comfortable around humans. When this happens, they lose
their natural fear and learn to see humans and their pets as food sources
and backyards as safe havens. It is not normal for coyotes to attack
or pursue humans, especially adults; it is a learned response to human
indifference.
Small children are at risk from coyotes. Children should be well-supervised
at all times, especially where wildlife may be a concern. Teach children
to remain calm and not to shriek or scream if they see a coyote (this
might sound like wounded prey to the animal) and to move toward an adult
or group of adults.
Small animals (cats, small dogs, or rabbits) are seen as "dinner" to
a coyote. Cats should be kept indoors permanently, or in an outdoor
enclosed cat run. Keep your dog on a leash when you are in open areas.
If your dog is small, be prepared to gather the dog up in your arms
if you see a coyote. Then move towards an area of human activity while
making loud noises and using big gestures.
To aggressively discourage coyotes from hanging around and feeling
comfortable around your family and your neighborhood, you should:
- eliminate food sources (pet food and small animals) from your
yard and encourage your neighbors to do the same. This must be a
unified neighborhood effort. If there is a regular coyote food source
in one yard on your block, coyotes will be active throughout the
neighborhood.
- erect high fences (7 feet plus) flush to the ground discourage
coyotes from entering yards. Eliminating the coyote's ability to
get a grip on the top of the fence or wall is the best means of prevention.
Installing a PVC pipe that is free to spin around a tight wire is
a good method to use.
- discourage any coyote from entering your yard and make it aware
that it is not welcome. Coyotes have been scared off properties by
aggressive gestures: waving sticks or brooms at them, throwing stones
or cans at them, or making loud noises. A simple deterrent you can
make: fill an aluminum can with small pebbles or coins inside, wrap
the can in aluminum foil, and seal with tape; shake this vigorously
- it can make enough noise and "flash" to scare off a coyote.
- deter a coyote if you see one in your neighbor's yard. Having
a coyote in a neighbor's yard is the same as having one in your own.
If a coyote approaches you, you should appear as large and threatening
as possible. Make aggressive gestures toward the animal by moving your
arms and legs, shouting in a deep voice, throwing rocks, sticks or other
objects at the coyote, or waving an object like a handkerchief or walking
stick. Maintain eye contact and move toward an area that is full of
human activity.
If these methods do not appear to be working, do not turn away or run.
Keep constant eye contact with the coyote and continue to move toward
other people, a building, or an area of activity.
If you have a persistent problem with coyotes call the Arizona Fish
and Game Dept. at 602-942-3000.
Javelina
Javelina are sometimes seen in semi-urban areas near a wash or natural
desert and even in urban settings where a food souce is available. They
have been known to damage ornamental landscapes and gardens, injure
pets, and frighten homeowners. They can be belligerent when they are
allowed to become comfortable in an area.
Javelina travel in herds of eight to twelve, although lone males are
common, too. They may act defensively when cornered, to protect their
young, or when they hear or smell a dog. This behavior may include charging,
teeth clacking, or a barking, growling sound. Javelina occasionally
bite humans, but usually only those people providing the javelina with
food. A single javelina could easily kill a large dog, or do severe
damage to an adult human.
Javelina have adapted to human presence by being more active at night
to avoid human interference. They usually visit homes at night, but
have been known to do so during the day in cooler weather. Javelina
are known to choose daytime bedding sites where visibility is completely
obstructed by dense vegetation and rocks.
Javelina visit neighborhoods because they are attracted to:
- food -
lush vegetation, flowers and succulent plants, like prickly pear
cacti, that people place around their homes; also pet food, birdseed,
table scraps, and garbage
- water - javelina will chew on an irrigation hose
or drink from a pool around a home
- shelter - a porch, an area under
a mobile home, a crawlspace beneath a house or any cave-like area.
To discourage javelina:
- Use electric fencing to deny javelina access. Single-strand electric
fencing 8 to 10 inches above ground level is the most effective around
gardens.
- Use block walls or chain link fencing about 4 feet tall around
the entire yard. Use a concrete footer buried 8 to 12 inches into
the ground to prevent digging under.
If you are not able to erect physical barriers, and are experiencing
a javelina "invasion", you should make it unpleasant for them to stick
around. Because they are herd animals, you may only have to scare off
one to make the rest leave.
- Do not provide food for the javelina. Feed pets inside or only
what they can eat at one meal. Do not leave food out or scatter birdseed.
Pick up fallen fruits and nuts as quickly as possible. If you know
someone who feeds javelina, let them know they are endangering themselves,
the javelina and you.
- Keep water sources out of reach of the javelina or behind strong
fencing.
- Secure garbage and compost containers with locking lids or by
attaching them to a wall. Clean out cans with a bleach solution to
reduce attractive odors.
- Landscape with plants javelina do not like to eat. A list of
these plants can be found at: http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/garden/az1238.pdf.
- Spray then javelina with water from a garden hose, or use a large
squirt gun to spray diluted ammonia (10% ammonia with 90% water)
at them.
- Loud noises have been known to frighten javelina into leaving
an area. Try making the can filled with pebbles, as described in
the Coyote section.
If you have a persistent problem with javelina call the Arizona Fish
and Game Dept. at 602-942-3000.