Update 03.15.12

The following article does a good job of explaining the growing coyote "problem" in Atlanta and how best to coexist with them.  http://saportareport.com/blog/2012/03/coyotes-in-atlanta/ The key take-aways from this article are:

1. Their goal in life is to eat and procreate (they will only reproduce in accordance with their food supply).  If they have no food, then they will move on and reproduce less.
• Keep your cats inside
• Keep your trashcans secured
2. Trapping (i.e. killing) them does no good, as others will just move in.

Update 02.27.12 

As most of you know, a family of coyotes has moved into the neighborhood and has been frequently visible during daylight hours, including preying upon domestic pets, especially cats.  As neighborhood watch chair, I researched coyote trapping methods and reported this information to the GACA board.  

• Wildlife trappers must be licensed by the state to remove coyotes from the area.  They use leg traps to catch the coyotes, which are then euthanized, as it is not legal to relocate predators.
• GACA board members expressed concern over the risks involved in trapping.  It is possible for domestic pets to be injured by leg traps.  It would also be possible for a child (or adult) to approach a coyote trapped in a leg trap.  If the child (or adult) got too close to the trapped wild animal, it would attack and could do significant harm to the child (or adult).
• Given these risks, the GACA board has voted against the concept of funding or partially funding trappers to remove the coyotes.  The potential liability for board members is considered to be too high.
• Individuals can work together independently and voluntarily to hire trappers to remove coyotes from their own property, but the GACA board will not participate with coyote removal in any way.  The GACA board is providing this information only, and is not making any recommendations regarding coyote removal.
• There are several ways we can discourage the coyotes when they are in the neighborhood.  We recommend that all residents take these actions and hopefully the coyotes will move to another neighborhood.
• Do not leave small children outdoors unattended.  Always supervise small children outside.
• Keep small domestic pets indoors as much as possible.  Many neighborhood cats have fallen prey to these coyotes.  It is my understanding that the “leash law” in DeKalb County applies to cats as well as dogs – they should not be left to run loose in the neighborhood.  Protect your pets.  Do not leave them outdoors unsupervised or they could become coyote victims.
• If you feed your pets outdoors, do not leave uneaten pet food outside for long.  Wild animals will take the easiest method for getting food. If your pet leaves food uneaten, coyotes or other critters will eat it for them.  (I learned this lesson the hard way myself.  Leaving dog food outside invites wild animals, including coyotes and rats.)
• When you see the coyotes, do everything possible to SCARE them!  They are too comfortable around people who do not threaten them. 
• YELL at them!
• THROW ROCKS or other projectiles at them!
• Make yourself as threatening as possible.  When I personally encountered a coyote with a dead cat on February 13, I picked up a big rock, yelled at the coyote (who immediately dropped his victim and ran), heaved the rock at the coyote, and chased him.  He ran away from me as fast as he could. 
• If we will all work together, we can make our neighborhood as uninviting to them as possible.  By doing this, hopefully they will move to another neighborhood that just ignores or “lives with” the coyotes.
• Please see http://www.awareone.org/ for more information regarding “Urban” coyotes.