Tag: urban

About The Urban Coyote


Thriving Amidst the City Skylines

Coyotes have established a ubiquitous presence in American cities, spanning from coast to coast. Remarkably, coyotes, born and raised within city limits, exhibit a preference for urban environments. It is not a result of being displaced from more suitable habitats; rather, the majority of these creatures consider the city their true home—a place they willingly choose to inhabit.
Contrary to common belief, coyotes do not strictly limit their hunting after dark. Coyotes are adaptable eaters and require sustenance daily. They actively pursue prey whenever the opportunity arises, regardless of the time of day. However, coyotes generally tend to dedicate a significant portion of their hunting time to the early morning and late evenings. They don’t typically hunt in large packs but instead tend to operate individually or in small family groups.
Coyotes are highly adaptable creatures known for their opportunistic feeding habits, as they are willing to consume a wide range of food sources. However, their preference lies with commonly available prey such as whitetail deer, rabbits, rodents, and small animals which include the family dog or cat. Chickens are a superior delicacy and are highly sought after.

Note: There is a misconception regarding coyotes and their living habits, particularly their use of dens. A den is primarily used for the pup-rearing season. It is basically a temporary shelter for nurturing offspring. Denning is a transient phase and only lasts as long as the female coyote requires it to raise her young. Once this phase is completed, she will move on, and the family unit will disperse.

Similar to rats or raccoons, coyotes are versatile creatures, adapting well to various environments. They possess a wide range of dietary and habitat preferences, allowing them to flourish in urban areas, much like they would on an expansive prairie. They possess an uncanny ability to capitalize on human resources without causing significant disturbances to the humans themselves. As a result, the majority of the urban coyote population in the United States leads inconspicuous lives, concealed from the prying eyes of humans, as they go about their resourceful and resilient existence.
Coyote attacks on individuals are extremely rare. Preventing coyote attacks often involves modifying human conduct and raising awareness about effective measures to discourage habituation. In the few cases where humans were attacked, it was discovered that the coyotes responsible had been intentionally fed by people. Similarly, some individuals were bitten while attempting to rescue their pets from coyote encounters when the pets were allowed to roam freely. On rare occasions, people may be bitten by cornered coyotes, and even more rarely, by coyotes infected with rabies.

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Costco Chicken Coop, a Review

Costco Has Failed Chicken Keeping 101… In So Many Ways

costco chicken coop

A Phoenix Costco has jumped on the urban chicken-keeping bandwagon, selling this coop for $279.  That’s a lot of money for this poorly designed flimsy wood structure with cheap hardware.
Size matters in Phoenix! This coop will house 2 unhappy chickens, but it will also bake them alive in Phoenix summers.
Why it Fails My Approval
Next boxes haven’t a lip on the edge, so bedding will get kicked out resulting in broken eggs.
All the doors are really small making access & cleaning difficult.
Roofing material is a poor choice, especially for Phoenix.
Roost is narrow and too low.
Hardware is cheap & used sparingly, doors will likely warp.
So back to the drawing board friends, and happy coop hunting… elsewhere.

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Keeping Urban Chickens and the Law

Urban chicken keeping is quite popular, your neighbors might even have chickens and you don’t even know it! Chickens are quiet, it’s roosters that are loud and become the neighborhood nuisance. Every city has laws about keeping backyard chickens, but they are seldom if ever enforced unless there’s a complaint. So, no roosters!
There have to be laws and be glad there are, nobody wants to have a neighbor with a gazillion birds stinking up the neighborhood. But I can assure you there aren’t any chicken police knocking on the doors of keepers having a few birds responsibly kept in a clean and secure environment.
Let’s be realistic if you live in a suburban subdivision where the houses are only a few feet apart and you pay an HOA – keeping chickens is a bad choice. Keeping chickens under the radar is also a bad idea, you could have your chickens confiscated by authorities, be fined, or both. However, if keeping chickens is allowed in your city and you have a spacious, private, and fenced backyard, a few hens won’t cause a disturbance. But, there are still rules and unwritten laws to follow.
Your hens should be completely out of sight from all neighbors and the public. That means building a privacy fence or planting bushes that add appeal to your property. It’s never a good idea to draw attention to the fact you are keeping chickens as not everybody will graciously welcome them. Many people believe they harbor disease, smell, attract flies, and rodents, and the list goes on and on. You should have enough space for your hens to be confined in a fenced area attached to a coop or shelter.
My rule of thumb is to keep birds no less than 40 feet from your neighbor’s house, even if the ordinance in your city requires less.  If you can do this, there shouldn’t be a problem with neighbors unless you fail to keep them clean or confined.
Remember, the law may give you the right to keep chickens, but nuisance laws give your neighbors the same right to say you can’t. Be responsible, clean, and maintain your small flock with integrity.

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