Coyotes roam Provo foothills, residents advised to take precautions after 2 cats found dead

PROVO, Utah (ABC4) — Provo officials are alerting residents of an increased presence of coyotes in the area, asking the public to help in taking steps to discourage their stay after two cats were found dead in the foothills.

The Provo Police Department posted a notice Monday saying coyotes have been spotted numerous times in the northeast foothills area, according to calls from residents. Provo officials said animal control officers have “limited options” when it comes to addressing the issue, and they are asking the public to step in.

First, officials are asking Provo residents to remove all outside food sources, such as pet food, bird feeders, and garbage. They also say to ensure animal pens are secure and to consider keeping small pets indoors.

Wild Aware Utah, an advocacy group that works to reduce wildlife-human conflict, added other recommendations including installing motion-sensitive lighting and trimming vegetation to reduce hiding spots. The group says to avoid leaving children and pets outside unattended, particularly after dark.

“If you spot a coyote, scare them away with loud noise and bright lights. They do not like humans and will typically leave the area if they are harassed,” the post reads.

While officials can’t say for certain that the dead cats found in the foothills were due to coyotes, Animal Control officers have set up two dog traps. They reportedly have not had success with them so far. 

“It is unlikely they will be able to trap a coyote due to the human scent that will remain on the cages,” Provo Police said. “Foot traps are not used in this situation, due to the larger risk of injury to pets, other wildlife, and people. As a reminder, shooting is NOT permitted within Provo city limits. Protecting property is at the judgement of the individual.”

Provo Police said that while it is inevitable residents will experience interaction with the wildlife that inhabit the area, which shares its eastern border with the Wasatch Mountains, coyotes tend to be more active at night than during the day. Coyotes are reportedly also constantly on the move, with the ability to travel many miles in a day, and they tend to move farther up the hillside the warmer the weather gets.

Additionally, the risk to the general public is low as coyotes do not like to be near humans.

If necessary, police said residents can contact authorities and Animal Control officers will assist in scaring away the coyotes from the area. For more information on coyotes in Utah, visit the Wild Aware Utah website here.

If coyotes are are causing issues in your neighborhood, you can request removals from private wildlife nuisance control companies here.