Efficacy of motion-activated sprinklers as a humane deterrent for urban coyotes

Abstract

ABSTRACT Non-lethal management methods for urban coyotes are limited despite an increase in human-coyote conflicts in North American cities. Deterrent devices are recommended to reduce human-coyote conflict; however, no scientific studies have assessed the efficacy of deterrents with urban coyotes. This article investigated the short-term efficacy of motion-activated sprinklers for deterring urban coyotes from residential areas in the Metro Vancouver Regional District of British Columbia. Camera traps were used to monitor coyote activity over three consecutive phases: pre-deterrent, deterrent, and post-deterrent. Sprinklers significantly reduced the daily mean number of coyote visits during the deterrent phase compared to the pre-deterrent phase. There were no significant differences in the daily mean number of coyote visits between the pre-deterrent and post-deterrent phases, however mean duration of visits significantly decreased. This article offers evidence that sprinklers may reduce the presence of coyotes in residential areas, thereby encouraging future research into the development and implementation of humane deterrents for urban coyotes.