Learning to coexist with thriving coyotes on South Carolina's coast

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Impossible to eliminate, the Lowcountry must learn how to coexist with coyotes.

"They've made their way to the coast," Jared Crain with St. Christopher Camp and Conference Center said.

"They're smart. They're extremely adaptable. They'll eat about anything, and that's why they've been so successful," said Jay Butfiloski, a wildlife biologist at the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, the barrier islands have seen an uptick in coyote sightings and encounters.

"Their expansion has been nothing less than remarkable," Butfiloski said.

They haven't made it to every island, but DNR says it's only a matter of time.

Biologists say coyotes' dens are found in protected areas with less than a mile from water.

READ MORE: "Isle of Palms sees increase in coyote sightings near beaches."

The 250 acres of maritime forest on Sullivan's Island fit the bill.

"We think the coyotes arrived here 10 to 15 years ago," said Andy Benke, a Sullivan's Island town administrator.

Benke says Sullivan's Island is an accreting island, meaning their habitat will only grow larger.

"Mostly it's sightings and occasionally encounters where somebody might meet a coyote on the beach path as they walk to the beach," Benke said.

The town relies on public input and calls to the police department to place traps.

"We typically don't disclose where they're located because of the human scent. People will be curious and the human scent will often scare the coyote away from the trap," Benke said. "It does provide at least a temporary relief in the coyotes that we find in high-traffic areas."

READ MORE: "Coyotes attack and injure man's dog on Isle of Palms: IOPPD."

In South Carolina, you must hire a professional or obtain a permit to trap coyotes.

The town encourages residents and visitors to haze the coyotes with an air horn or a whistle.

Across the Charleston Harbor, Andrew Gilreath, the Director of Public Safety says they aren't seeing these issues on Folly Beach.

"We have gotten reports of possible sightings. We've gotten reports of some possible footprints, usually on the far east end of our island," Gilreath said.

At least so far.

"They're definitely getting out to these islands in other ways. They're swimming out. They are getting through like the maritime forests and through the marshes," Gilreath said.

READ MORE: "Sullivan's Island grapples with escalating coyote encounters, residents call for action."

Further down the coast, sightings in Seabrook have led officials to believe coyotes are scoping out the area.

"They're definitely spending time going from environment to environment around here and figuring out what resources they like," Crain said.

There have been no reported attacks.

"You can listen to them and you might think there's 20 of them," Seabrook Island Councilman Gordon Weis said.

Crain has been monitoring the coyotes with a camera.

He says coyotes do not prey on sea turtle eggs but they have learned coyotes will find them if there aren't enough resources elsewhere.

"Kiawah saw nearly 8% of their turtle eggs were predated by coyotes last year," Crain said.

Seabrook has not started trapping but has found other solutions.

"Once a cage is put over a sea turtle nest than the coyotes, it's almost 100% effective. Coyotes will not get into that nest," Crain said.

Weis says now, it's a matter of education.

"When you have 112 people show up for a meeting, and you're only expecting 60 it's a successful meeting," Gordon said. "It's a matter of learning to live with them because you can't get rid of them."

READ MORE: "Coyote in Mount Pleasant tests positive for rabies, a first in SC for 2024."

Complaints of coyotes are increasing in the Lowcountry.

SCDNR says complaints often peak mid-summer while coyotes are raising their pups.

"To have and to raise young, the biological demands go up. And so the amount of food that they need goes up as well. So you will start to see increased movements potentially at other times of the day," Butfiloski said.

They also say complaints may increase during late fall or winter when the young coyotes leave to establish new territories.

"Coyotes can swim, so you can actually see them move around from island to island, even islands that are slightly offshore," Crain said.

DNR says coyotes are omnivores, but don't want to work too hard for food.

"They've always kind of been seen as tricksters, smart, very adaptable," Crain said.

The animals are often attracted to pet food and garbage, especially in communities that see a lot of visitors.

"They tend to generate quite a bit of trash while they're visiting and sometimes that's a little harder to control than it is with permanent residents. And not only that but, you also have people that are coming in part-time that may not understand, you know, they're coyotes in the area," Butfiloski said.

READ MORE: "Coyote attacks escalate on Sullivan's Island: Residents urged to exercise caution."

Coyotes will pick up on this and could return looking for more.

DNR says these coyotes are more likely to come into contact with people and create problems.

"You're actually bringing them closer to you, as opposed to trying to take them away from your home," Butfiloski said.

"Prevention is one of the best ways to take care of coyotes, and that is generally making your space as unattractive and unappealing to a coyote as possible," Crain said.

That's why DNR suggests cleaning the area around your home, clearing brush and keeping a clean space.

"They want to remain hidden. So, you know, they want to be hidden then if you clear those areas out, they have to kind of retreat farther back into the woods to stay hidden," Butfiloski said.

Officials have been monitoring the coyotes on camera, learning and studying their behavior patterns.

"As you start capturing images of the coyotes, you can start to begin to kind of create patterns of when are the coyotes spending most of their time in this area," Crain said.

This information is then shared with residents and visitors at meetings to help educate and keep people safe.

"They are crepuscular is the word for it, meaning they're active in the dawn and the dusk," Crain said.

"If you see one, don't try and run away. They have a burst speed of about 40 miles an hour. Pick up a rock and throw it at 'em. Get rid of 'em. Or yell at them," Weis said.

DNR says it's important to stay aware of your surroundings and keep an eye on your pets.

"Attacks on people are exceedingly rare, especially in the southeast," Butfiloski said.