Kiawah Island is home to many wonderful and exciting creatures. It is a magical place that one can sit on a back porch and watch alligators in the water, while the deer and bobcats scamper through the marsh. The Egrets and Herons show off their magnificent fishing skills and acrobatics in the air. Now, a new resident is very apparent on the island. Coyotes can be be heard in the dark moving through the thick forest. Just like the alligators and bobcats, coyotes must be shown some respect and healthy caution.
This is apparently an emerging problem. Back in October, a few of us contacted the specialist on the island, Jim Jordan. He offered this explanation:
Coyotes on Kiawah Island
Yes, there are coyotes on Kiawah Island. The first coyote was seen on Kiawah Island more than 5 years ago and numbers appear to have increased in the last year. Coyotes are not native to South Carolina and historically were found only west of the Mississippi River. Coyotes were first seen in
the Upstate of South Carolina in 1978 and can now be found in all 46 South Carolina counties.
Coyotes are typically grayish or reddish-brown in color and have the general appearance of a small shepherd-type dog. They have slim muzzles, erect pointed ears, and a bushy tail. They stand 23-26 inches high at the shoulder and weigh between 25-40 pounds. Contrary to popular belief, coyotes do not form packs. They are typically solitary or can be found in pairs. A group of coyotes, larger than 2, is likely a family group in which the young have not yet dispersed. Coyotes are omnivorous and will eat a wide variety of prey items, including: muscadine grapes, persimmons, rodents, rabbits, and deer fawns.
Coyotes often howl and bark at dusk and during nighttime hours. This is a sound which residents can expect to hear on the island. Coyotes vocalize in order to communicate with one another. They typically do this to call other members of the family group back together or to let other coyotes
know that this is their territory.
Coyotes and people
Coyotes are not a threat to people. Coyotes have a natural fear of people and will not approach people unless they have been accustomed to being fed. Never feed coyotes or leave pet food outdoors after dark.
Coyotes and pets
On occasion, coyotes will prey on unattended domestic pets. Pet predation is usually due to the territorial nature of the coyote or a lack of available prey. Keep unattended pets indoors after dark. If you encounter a coyote while walking your dog, make plenty of noise and raise your arms to be sure the coyote is aware of your presence. You should also keep your leashed pet as close to you as possible or pick up your pet if it is small enough to easily do so.
Controlling coyote numbers
Coyotes are a non-native species that will compete with our native gray foxes and bobcats for food and habitat. In a perfect world, we would remove all the coyotes from the island. Unfortunately, this is not a viable option. Coyotes are very intelligent and difficult to trap or shoot and it would be impossible to eradicate them from the island. Town Biologists are monitoring the increase in coyote numbers and evaluating potential options for control. Coyote numbers are also naturally controlled by diseases, such as canine distemper, parvo, and mange.
For specific questions regarding coyotes, email a Town Biologist at
biologist@wildlifeatkiawah.com.
This is apparently an emerging problem. Back in October, a few of us contacted the specialist on the island, Jim Jordan. He offered this explanation:
Coyotes on Kiawah Island
Yes, there are coyotes on Kiawah Island. The first coyote was seen on Kiawah Island more than 5 years ago and numbers appear to have increased in the last year. Coyotes are not native to South Carolina and historically were found only west of the Mississippi River. Coyotes were first seen in
the Upstate of South Carolina in 1978 and can now be found in all 46 South Carolina counties.
Coyotes are typically grayish or reddish-brown in color and have the general appearance of a small shepherd-type dog. They have slim muzzles, erect pointed ears, and a bushy tail. They stand 23-26 inches high at the shoulder and weigh between 25-40 pounds. Contrary to popular belief, coyotes do not form packs. They are typically solitary or can be found in pairs. A group of coyotes, larger than 2, is likely a family group in which the young have not yet dispersed. Coyotes are omnivorous and will eat a wide variety of prey items, including: muscadine grapes, persimmons, rodents, rabbits, and deer fawns.
Coyotes often howl and bark at dusk and during nighttime hours. This is a sound which residents can expect to hear on the island. Coyotes vocalize in order to communicate with one another. They typically do this to call other members of the family group back together or to let other coyotes
know that this is their territory.
Coyotes and people
Coyotes are not a threat to people. Coyotes have a natural fear of people and will not approach people unless they have been accustomed to being fed. Never feed coyotes or leave pet food outdoors after dark.
Coyotes and pets
On occasion, coyotes will prey on unattended domestic pets. Pet predation is usually due to the territorial nature of the coyote or a lack of available prey. Keep unattended pets indoors after dark. If you encounter a coyote while walking your dog, make plenty of noise and raise your arms to be sure the coyote is aware of your presence. You should also keep your leashed pet as close to you as possible or pick up your pet if it is small enough to easily do so.
Controlling coyote numbers
Coyotes are a non-native species that will compete with our native gray foxes and bobcats for food and habitat. In a perfect world, we would remove all the coyotes from the island. Unfortunately, this is not a viable option. Coyotes are very intelligent and difficult to trap or shoot and it would be impossible to eradicate them from the island. Town Biologists are monitoring the increase in coyote numbers and evaluating potential options for control. Coyote numbers are also naturally controlled by diseases, such as canine distemper, parvo, and mange.
For specific questions regarding coyotes, email a Town Biologist at
biologist@wildlifeatkiawah.com.
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