Coyotes are common inhabitants of urban natural areas such as the Menomonee River Parkway. Coyotes do not begin to den until late March/April. In January/February coyotes are within their breeding season, establishing their territories and looking for a mate. While general sightings of coyotes should not be cause for concern, we do want to deter them from establishing a denning area in or near the dog park come April. This can be achieved through aggressive hazing efforts when coyotes are seen within the dog park from now until April.

Here are a few reminders about how to haze a coyote and avoid potential conflict with them in the future (at home and in the parks).
*Do not feed coyotes – make sure that any dog treats or food brought into the dog park are either taken out with you or disposed of properly.
*Haze coyotes seen within the dog park - hazing is a form of behavior modification that involves using scare tactics to deter a wild animal from frequenting an area (yelling, throwing objects towards an animal, using noise makers such as whistles, etc.). Do not haze sick or injured animals. If you see a sick or injured animal, please contact the Wisconsin Humane Society's Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (414) 431-6204.
*Report coyote sightings to our online reporting page on iNaturalist.org, the Milwaukee County Coyote Watch. This will allow wildlife managers to monitor coyote behavior and also serves as a way for members of the public to monitor coyote activity in their area (Google “Milwaukee County Coyote Watch”).
*Do not allow your dogs to “play” with coyotes. Encounters like this can and do happen. While playful in nature, they should not be allowed because it can lead to habituation of that animal and/or the possible transmission of disease/illness.