New pest for me

Hudd 6/23/2013, 2:42 pm

I have dealt with various pests in the past in the garden, but this is the first time for this one. Had damage to my drip system, different areas, and one night the main line was chewed completely through. That one had to be on the day the timer set off the drip system (4am), checked at 5:30 to find water gushing everywhere.

Thought it was coons, until the next morning, I saw a coyote come prancing up to my 4 foot chain link fence, hopped clean over and up onto some straw bales (set up compost area in between the bales), and trotted right into the garden like he owned the place.

I ran out of the house and chased him off. Have not seen him since and no new damage or evidence, but am thinking he is still out there. Anyone else have any experience with coyotes and what may be a good way to discourage their destructive behavior?

GaRedClay 6/24/2013, 10:44 am

Coyotes have moved in to this area, I wanted to trap them. Then realized they kept the deer moving through the garden. It was a trade off, coyotes and less damage from deer, or deer that have been a constant garden pest for years. Its an uneasy alliance, I don't trust them much. If I had small children I'm sure I would get rid of them.

**camprn** 6/24/2013, 11:26 am

Coyotes are not herbivores, coyotes eat herbivores like woodchucks, squirrels, bunnies. As you noted GA, because they are a predator, they keep the critters that will eat your garden moving along.

I am dubious about the coyote having anything to do with your irrigation system failure. Unless the critter was really, really, really thirsty.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_do_coyotes_eat

Hudd 6/24/2013, 6:02 pm

I am not 100% sure, but here a couple of pics of the 2 of 5 areas I had to repair. The 2-piece one is just after the filter/pressure regulator/backflow thing-a-majiggy. It was chewed completely through. When I saw the coyote the next am come into my garden (I did not wait to take his picture, just chased him out), I am pretty sure it was him. There is also a city irrigation flow 50 feet from my garden, so I do not think it was being thirsty. Maybe irritated by sounds from the filter or system? Not sure, but have had no more damage since I chased him out.

2nd pic, had several holes poked in, had to cut out and splice.

southern gardener 6/24/2013, 6:15 pm

Hudd wrote:I am not 100% sure, but here a couple of pics of the 2 of 5 areas I had to repair. The 2-piece one is just after the filter/pressure regulator/backflow thing-a-majiggy. It was chewed completely through. When I saw the coyote the next am come into my garden (I did not wait to take his picture, just chased him out), I am pretty sure it was him. There is also a city irrigation flow 50 feet from my garden, so I do not think it was being thirsty. Maybe irritated by sounds from the filter or system? Not sure, but have had no more damage since I chased him out.

2nd pic, had several holes poked in, had to cut out and splice.

I would have no problem believing a coyote would bite through a drip line irrigation. They are really smart. My husband used to manage orchard with thousands of feet of irrigation drip hoses, and it was one of his rituals to repair the drip hoses where the coyotes had bitten through them for water. They are primarily carnivores, but they will eat avocados like they're a delicacy. They will eat whatever is available to them. From what I understand, that's why they multiply so rapidly is because of their ability to adapt to whatever food source is available. We have LOTS of coyotes around here.

Triciasgarden 6/24/2013, 6:43 pm

The sound of your irrigation system could have sounded like it was something interesting and the coyote's curiosity may have gotten the better of him. I think also that animals like to chew on something different every so often and maybe the cool plastic felt good on his mouth. I know my dogs like variety.

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