KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is reminding pet owners to be on the watch for possible coyote encounters.

February is the peak of breeding season for coyotes and continues into March, according to MDC. This means there is typically a spike in coyote activity this time of year.

“We get reports from people who live in neighborhoods, and they are usually shocked to find out that coyotes are in the area and can do so well in urban environments,” said MDC Wildlife damage Biologist, Patrice Pyatt.

MCDC said, unlike other kinds of wildlife, coyotes adapt particularly well around human development and coexist with people in many places. These areas can include municipal parks and other urban green space, golf courses, cemeteries, suburban wooded common areas, and even within subdivisions themselves.

According to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), pups are usually born in a den hollow in April or May. Four to seven pups are common, but as many as 17 may be born when food is especially abundant.

“It’s possible for encounters to occur between these wild canines and people’s pets,” Pyatt said.

Payatt added that dogs can trigger territorial responses from coyotes. If coyotes are known to be in the area, Pyatt encourages pet owners not to leave their pets outside unattended, especially during the hours of dusk, nighttime, and dawn. These are the periods coyotes are most active.

MDC said owners should be with their pets and have them in constant view during these times.

As scavengers, coyotes will eat just about anything, including foxes, groundhogs, mice, rabbits, squirrels, fruits, vegetables, birds, insects, carrion (dead animals) and common household garbage, according to MDC.

KDWP said coyotes generally do not attack people. In areas where coyotes are rarely removed, coyotes may lose their fear of people and become a problem that escalates when a person, usually a child, is bitten or attacked. KDWP said this is rare, seldom fatal, and has not occurred in Kansas. However, people living with urban coyotes need to be aware of the risks, recognize problem coyote behaviors, and understand how to reinforce a negative association with people.

MDC said effectively managing coyote conflicts comes down to limiting food attractions and using scare tactics. If food is deliberately or inadvertently provided by people, adult coyotes and their pups quickly learn not to fear humans and will develop a dependency on these easy food sources.

Pyatt urges dog and cat owners not to leave pet food outside, to securely cover all trash containers, and consider waiting to put trash containers out as close to pick up time as possible.

Pyatt recommends the use of scare tactics to instill fear of humans into coyotes. If a coyote should approach or be seen in the yard, homeowners should do everything possible to make it feel unwelcome. This could include yelling or making other loud, threatening noises, throwing rocks, spraying garden hoses, or blowing air horns. If its encounter with humans is unpleasant, a coyote will be less likely to come back.