Coyote mating season is here: What you should know
Seeing or hearing more coyotes lately? You’re not alone. Late January through early March is the mating season for coyotes and they become more active during this time. MassWildlife officials are reminding the public to take action to prevent conflicts with coyotes with these actionable tips.
Protecting pets: Dogs should always be supervised on a leash, especially during the coyote breeding season. Coyotes are territorial animals that live in family groups known as packs. During the breeding season, they become very active in marking and defending their territories to protect their pack from other coyotes and ensure they can successfully raise pups in the spring. Unfortunately, coyotes can’t distinguish your pet from an intruding coyote, and will treat the presence of dogs in their territories as a threat. During the breeding season, coyotes can become more aggressive toward large-breed dogs, including dogs as large as labs and shepherds. Smaller dogs and cats are viewed as prey items by coyotes at any time of the year. Most coyote attacks on pets involve dogs that are off-leash or loose in a backyard.
Removing food: As opportunistic feeders, coyotes will utilize whatever food is naturally available including small animals, insects, and fruits, as well as artificial sources such as garbage, pet food, and compost. Bird feeders and suet also attract coyotes to yards, both as a direct food source and by attracting rodents that coyotes feed on. Coyotes that find human-associated foods will spend more time in yards and neighborhoods. Coyotes that become dependent on these supplemental foods can become habituated, act tame, and exhibit bold behavior toward people. Never intentionally feed coyotes. Most recent coyote bites on people can be directly tied to intentional feeding in the community.
Hazing: Coyotes are highly adaptable to a wide range of habitats and can be found year-round in forested areas, beaches, wetlands, golf courses, and neighborhoods. Coyotes are present in every city and town in mainland Massachusetts, meaning the opportunity for human-coyote interaction is high. While coyotes and other wild animals are naturally afraid of people, this fear can disappear over time when animals spend a lot of time around people or when they are frequently fed by people. Whenever you see a coyote in your yard, you should aggressively haze it by physically chasing it out of the yard, spraying it with a hose, making loud noises by banging pots and pans or blowing an air horn, and throwing small objects like a tennis ball with the intent to frighten not injure. Repeated hazing helps teach coyotes they are not welcome in your yard, similar to how coyotes naturally chase other coyotes out of their own territories. The more people in a community that haze coyotes, the more effective it will be in making them avoid people.
Don’t let coyotes intimidate you: It’s important to note that negative encounters with coyotes are rare, and attacks on people are even more rare. The presence of a coyote alone is not cause for concern.
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Appearance: Coyotes resemble a medium-sized dog in body size and shape, but with longer, denser fur. Typical weights for females are 33–40 pounds, while males typically weigh 34–47 pounds. Coyotes often look heavier than they are, especially during the winter, because of their thick fur.
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Vocalization: Coyotes communicate by vocalizing, scent marking, and through a variety of body displays. It is common to hear them howling and yipping at night, or even during the day in response to sirens and other loud noises. When one hears a family of coyotes howling, it's easy to think the area is overflowing with coyotes, but it's usually just a few coyotes in a family group. Coyotes do not howl to announce a kill; this would attract other wild animals. Coyotes howl for a variety of other reasons, including locating family members within their territory, warning non-family members to stay away, and advertising for mates during the breeding season.
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When to seek help: Coyotes can be active at any time of day and daytime activity is not an indication the animal is sick. If you encounter a coyote that is exhibiting concerning behavior like approaching leashed pets, closely following people, or not running off when harassed, you should contact your local Animal Control Officer or local MassWildlife office for assistance. If there is an immediate threat to public safety, you should call local law enforcement.
Click here to learn more about coyotes.
Click here to learn more about preventing conflicts with coyotes.
Successful deer hunting season benefits both conservation and families
MassWildlife officials are announcing preliminary figures for the 2022 deer hunting season. The 2022 season set a new annual record of 15,853 harvested deer, which is well within the expected range permitted under strict regulations set by MassWildlife.
“The statewide deer population has been increasing for several decades,” said MassWildlife Deer and Moose Project Leader Martin Feehan. “Hunting is a critical tool for balancing deer populations with forest health while feeding tens of thousands of families across Massachusetts every year. It really is a win-win for both people and wildlife conservation.”
Massachusetts has an estimated statewide deer herd of more than 150,000 but densities vary widely from an ideal range of about 12–18 deer per square mile in most of central and western Massachusetts to more than 30–50 deer per square mile in areas of eastern Massachusetts and on the islands. Without population management through regulated hunting, deer become overabundant, increasing risks to public safety from vehicle collisions and habitat damage. When there are too many deer, they over-browse tree saplings and seedlings, which degrades forest health and negatively impacts many other wildlife species. In an effort to reduce deer numbers in eastern Massachusetts, MassWildlife made more permits available to hunters in these areas. Biologists are encouraged by the preliminary results, with record harvests in Bristol and Plymouth counties and on Nantucket, where deer numbers are too high.
This fall, MassWildlife also launched its Hunters Share the Harvest Program, which provides an opportunity for hunters to donate wild game meat like venison to Massachusetts residents in need. In this first pilot year of the program, generous hunters donated more than 1,500 meals of processed venison to veterans’ families through the Massachusetts Military Support Foundation. MassWildlife plans to expand donation and distribution locations in the coming years. Anyone can help financially support MassWildlife's Hunters Share the Harvest Program with a monetary donation to the Massachusetts Outdoor Heritage Foundation. Donations will help cover the processing and packaging costs for donated meat. This program creates the opportunity for hunters to continue hunting after they have filled their own freezers while addressing food insecurity in their communities and helping Massachusetts meet its deer management goals.
Licensed hunters play an important role in wildlife management, but barriers to hunting access remain a problem. In most areas of Massachusetts where there is adequate hunting access, deer populations are within MassWildlife's management goals for promoting healthy forest ecosystems. In areas where effective hunting methods are restricted by town by-laws prohibiting the discharge of firearms and in areas where hunting access is severely limited through discharge setbacks, land closures, or town by-laws requiring written permission, not enough deer are harvested from the population to stabilize or reduce deer population growth.
Hunters are required to report harvested deer and help MassWildlife collect important data like weight and sex. This information helps MassWildlife biologists monitor the deer population throughout Massachusetts. The 2022 statewide harvest of 15,853 deer highlights growing deer abundance statewide and increased access to permits, with the previous 3-year average of 14,007. Preliminary harvest figures for the 2022 deer hunting seasons are:
- Youth Deer Hunt Day: 114
- Paraplegic Hunt Days: 7
- Archery Season: 6,543
- Shotgun Season: 5,823
- Primitive Firearms Season: 3,366
Watch for bald eagles this winter
Many people are surprised to find out that winter is a prime time for birding. There are opportunities for beginner and experienced birders to spot our year-round resident birds as well as the seasonal “snowbirds” that visit Massachusetts for the winter months. Some veteran birders make an annual trek to the Massachusetts coast in winter catch a glimpse of seabirds and sea ducks. Other, more casual birders are content with the sight of back-capped chickadees, downy woodpeckers, or white-breasted nuthatches as they walk or ski along. One iconic bird—the bald eagle—is becoming easier for winter birders to spot.
Bald eagle restoration is one the best conservation success stories in Massachusetts. MassWildlife continues to document steady growth and expansion of the eagle population. That means that there may be more opportunities to see an eagle near you this winter.
Where to look for eagles in MA
Bald eagles usually live in coastal areas, estuaries, and larger inland waters. They need a lot of shoreline habitat with forested areas for nesting. They prefer areas where some trees project above the forest canopy for perching with an unimpeded view. Bald eagles typically choose waterbodies with a good supply of moderate- to large-sized fish.
Eagle-spotting tips:
- Eagles are drawn to open waters. When lakes and ponds begin to freeze, there are fewer areas of open waters which may make eagles easier to find.
- Eagles often gather below dams if water is being released.
- If you see an eagle once, visit that site again. Eagles tend to return to the same section of shoreline or even the same tree throughout the season and year after year.
- Look for large nests in big trees. Massachusetts is home to over 70 nesting pairs. If you do spot a nest, keep your distance and observe from afar.
- If you see an eagle, watching with binoculars from inside your vehicle is a great way to observe the birds without disturbing them and you’ll stay warm.
What do eagles do in the winter?
Bald eagles become sexually mature when they are between 4–6 years old, but they may be considerably older before breeding for the first time. Courtship takes place in mid- to late winter. After courtship, a mated pair builds or adds to a large nest in December–February. The nest is built with large sticks and lined with sprigs of pine, grasses, and other soft materials. Male eagles collect the nest materials and deliver them to their mates, which are responsible for most of the actual nest construction. Once a nesting site is chosen, mated pairs usually return every year and add to the existing nest. Egg laying usually takes place from early March to early April.
If you see a bald eagle carrying sticks to a nest this winter, please report your observation to MassWildlife at mass.wildlife@mass.gov. Please include the location and date of the observation and your contact information. These observations help MassWildlife identify new nest locations and monitor our eagle population. At any time of year, if you observe a bald eagle at a nest, please report it to MassWildlife using the Heritage Hub.
Get to know animal tracks
Wild animals are experts at staying out of sight. Yet the winter snow and mud can reveal a detailed account of the comings and goings of even the most secretive animals. Whether you’re wandering secluded forests and fields or taking a walk in your suburban neighborhood, watch for tracks to learn about wildlife in the area.
As with birdwatching, tree identification, or any other area of nature study, learning to identify tracks takes some practice. Start by getting familiar with common animal tracks. Use MassWildlife’s animal track card as a guide to tracks you may encounter here in Massachusetts.
Identifying animal tracks is much easier if the conditions are right. Tracks left in snow that has partially melted can become distorted and are difficult to decipher. Loose or dry snow can also be a problem since it doesn’t hold track details. Look for tracks in fresh snow that’s not too deep or in mud for the most accurate print.
In addition to the tracks themselves, pay attention to the pattern of tracks on the ground. For example, deer, bobcats, house cats, and canines (dogs, coyotes, foxes) place their hind foot into—or nearly info—the track left by their foot to form a diagonal pattern and a narrow trail. Rabbits and gray squirrels gallop or hop, while members of the weasel family (otter, fisher, and mink) bound. Learning about distinctive track patterns (which you can find on the track card) can help with identification and help you gain a deeper understanding of the lives of these animals.
You can use tracks along with other clues like bits of fur, scat, or signs of digging to get more information about what the animal was going. Watching for tracks and other evidence of wildlife activity can add some fun and a little bit of mystery to your next winter walk. Use the links below to find more ways to enjoy the outdoors this winter:
- 5 must-read tips for winter birdwatching
Winter can be a great time to view common backyard birds as well as unusual birds overwintering here in Massachusetts. - Learn where to look for bald eagles
Bald eagles are active in winter with courtship and nest building. Get tips for where to find them and how to observe without disturbing the eagles. - Explore a Wildlife Management Area near you
MassWildlife manages nearly 230,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas that provide habitat for wildlife and give people a place to explore natural landscapes (there are no maintained trails). WMAs are open to the public for hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing.
Junior Conservation Camp teaches outdoor skills to Massachusetts teens
Teens who like the outdoors will love Conservation Camp! Designed for girls and boys aged 13–17, the Massachusetts Junior Conservation Camp (MJCC) offers a hands-on curriculum focused on outdoor skills, conservation, and ethics. During the two-week overnight camp, teens can try new outdoor activities, improve their current skills, and meet like-minded peers.
The MJCC will be held at the Moses Scout Reservation in Russell from August 8–20, 2023. Registration is now open. Conservation groups and sporting clubs who want to sponsor a camper may also register to reserve a spot for a deserving teen.
Campers gain a variety of skills during their two weeks at camp. Professionals from environmental agencies provide hands-on experiences and demonstrations on topics including wildlife, fisheries, forest fire control, and forest management. Experienced and enthusiastic outdoors men and women teach fishing, camping, wild foods, archery, and firearms shooting and safety. In addition, campers have the opportunity to earn certifications in Basic Hunter Education and Boating Safety.
Tuition is $1,100, but most campers receive full scholarships from sporting clubs and conservation organizations across the state. Click here for more information on groups with camp scholarships.
For an inside look at camp life, check out this Massachusetts Wildlife magazine article.
Support endangered species at tax time
More than 430 plants and animals are listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. These rare species play an important role in keeping the Commonwealth's natural communities thriving. You can make a difference by supporting endangered species conservation while filing your taxes this year. Simply look for Line 33A for Endangered Wildlife Conservation on your state tax form and write in any amount. Your meaningful donation will go to the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Fund which is dedicated specifically to the conservation of rare species in the Commonwealth.
Already filed your taxes, but still want to donate? There are a few other ways you can donate:
- Online with a credit card or electronic check*
- Through your MassFishHunt account
- By check made payable to "Comm. of MA—NHESP" and mailed to: MassWildlife, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581
*You will be redirected to our payment portal with nCourt, LLC.
Contact for MassWildlife Monthly February 2023
Online
| Date published: | February 4, 2022 |
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